Forty-two years ago I received a phone call from Robert Delpire. “You’ve got to see this photographer—he’s amazing! His name is Leslie Krims.” Thank you, Robert. That year at Photo, we published Krims four times. At the time, you couldn’t find anyone more provocative than Leslie: he referred to John Szarkowski, the head of the photo department at the Museum of Modern Art, as an, “arthritic tap dancer.”
In 1976, Lucien Clergue invited Krims to Arles to lead a workshop. What an event it was! Sixty people signed up, instead of the usual twenty or thirty. On the first day, when Leslie arrived, he made an announcement: “There won’t be a workshop. It’s pointless—photography cannot be taught. But to thank you for signing up, I’ve brought you my portrait as a gift. If any part of your body hurts, press my photo against it and you’ll be cured!” It caused a scandal. Clergue, livid, had to reimburse everyone who signed up. But Leslie didn’t care. He never left Rochester, where he teaches. The late 20th and early 21st century seemed to have forgotten Leslie Krims, but the Italian gallery Paci is helping him be rediscovered today. It’s a wonderful turn of events and only fair.
EXHIBITION
Leslie Krims
Paris Photo 2014
From November 13 to 16, 2014
Paci Contemporary
Stand C41
Grand Palais
Avenue Winston Churchill
75008 Paris
http://www.parisphoto.com
BOOK
Leslie Krims
Photographs and texts by Leslie Krims
Publisher : Paci Contemporary
ISBN 978-88-6414-006-3
20,00€
http://www.pacicontemporary.com
INFORMATIONS
Via Trieste 48
25121 Brescia
ITALY
+39 030 2906352
[email protected] http://www.pacicontemporary.com
