May 2008
Martin Parr & Robert Rauschenberg
Photographs by Martin Parr express a fascination for the bizarre in every day life. His ironic and gaudy records of British society life and mass tourism have brought the artist international acclaim. Lesser known, but no less prolific, is Parr’s work as a collector. Over the last 30 years Parr has gathered postcards, camp objects, books on photography, a comprehensive selection of pictures by British photographers—including Tony Ray-Jones, Mark Neville and Tom Wood—and photos by international artists from Gilles Peress to Rinko Kawauchi. Together with an assortment of photographs by Parr, to whom photography is also an act of collecting, the Haus der Kunst will present a selection from Parr’s private collection. “Parrworld” was developed in close cooperation with Parr himself, and is a rich personality profile of the eccentric photographer. It will be open from May 7 to August 17.
Also opening at the Haus der Kunst is an exhibit focusing on American artist Robert Rauschenberg. Rauschenberg’s work has long been characterized by the exploration of the grandeur and the secrets of insignificant objects. Already in the 1950s, Rauschenberg stretched the boundaries of sculpture and painting by integrating found objects into his work: light bulbs, clippings or car tires, for example. Named “combine paintings” or “combinings,” those pieces led to Rauschenberg’s early fame as a precursor of American pop-art. From May 9 to September 14,
the Haus der Kunst will present an exhibition featuring yet another fruitful period of work: “Travelling ’70–’76.” In the 1970s, Rauschenberg traveled through Europe, India and Israel, creating art with musicians, artisans and photographers during his journey. The output of these collaborations, which also serve as a documentation of Rauschenberg’s new approach to materials and experiments with forms of expression, will be the focus of the exhibit.
For the first time, the Haus der Kunst will offer guided tours of these exhibits in English. A tour through “Parrworld” will be offered on May 17 and 31. English observations on Rauschenberg’s work will
be presented on May 24.
All tours start at 4 pm. <<<
