Here is the question posed by Liverpool’s Open Eye Gallery: “Can photography produce the history of an art exhibition and still retain its artistic autonomy?” That is, if a photographer photographs an exhibition, are they creating new art, or merely acting as another medium through which to view the exhibition? Some days it’s clear that I’m not clever enough for this job.
Here is, if not the answer, then at least an investigation into that question from four artists, using renowned European art events as a subject. Not All Documents Are Records: Photographing Exhibitions as an Art Form separates “document” and “record” as an archivist might, i.e. a document being an object open to change or amendment, whereas a record is closed, organised and systematically filed. Open Eye contends that the selected work of Cristina De Middel, Ugo Mulas, Hans Haacke and Ira Lombardia is acting as an open document rather than a closed record, preserving the temporary event long after it has been packed up, but also requiring the addition of another layer of interpretation by the secondary viewer. De Middel tackled recent history in looking at the Liverpool Biennial 2014, Ugo Mulas’s images capture the controversial Venice Biennale of 1968, Haacke shows us some giants of modern art from documenta 2 in 1959, and Lombardia appropriates the catalogue of dOCUMENTA (13). The show runs until 19 October; on 20 September there is a free companion discussion with artist/campaigner Guy Atkins entitled In Protest, reflecting on challenging authority (booking required).
Photographic Notes,
documenta 2, Kandinsky, Micky Mouse, 1959
© Hans Haacke © DACS, London
Venezia, 1968. Proteste studentesche,
XXXIV Esposizione Biennale Internazionale d’Arte
“Photo Ugo Mulas © Ugo Mulas Heirs. All rights reserved”
Not All Documents Are Records:
Photographing Exhibitions as an Art Form
Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
Photo © Paul Karalius
Photographic Notes,
documenta 2, Mondrian, Klee, 1959
© Hans Haacke © DACS, London
Photographic Notes,
documenta 2, Kandinsky 2 men, 1959
© Hans Haacke © DACS, London
Venezia, 1968. Sala di Gastone Novelli,
XXXIV Esposizione Biennale Internazionale d’Arte
“Photo Ugo Mulas © Ugo Mulas Heirs. All rights reserved”
Not All Documents Are Records:
Photographing Exhibitions as an Art Form
Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
Photo © Paul Karalius
Photographic Notes,
documenta 2, Pollock, Bench Child, 1959
© Hans Haacke © DACS, London
Venezia, 1968. Sala di Rodolfo Aricò,
XXXIV Esposizione Biennale Internazionale d’Arte
“Photo Ugo Mulas © Ugo Mulas Heirs. All rights reserved”
Photographic Notes,
documenta 2, Léger Family, 1959
© Hans Haacke © DACS, London
