Private Collections: Exhibitions from 21 September 2012 to 6 January 2013
Howard Greenberg, Collection
Freaks, The Monstrous Parade
Luciano Rigolini, Concept Car
Press release
Private Collections
Press release
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The Musée de l’Elysée presents different
approaches to collecting photography by means
of three original exhibitions.
Howard Greenberg, Collection
From 21 September 2012 to 6 January 2013
Howard Greenberg has been a gallery owner for thirty years
now and is considered today one of the pillars of the New York
photography scene. While his role as a dealer is well established,
less is known about his passion for collecting. It has remained quite
confidential and is now being exposed.
This collection of over 500 photographs was patiently built over the
last thirty years and stands out for the high quality of its prints. A set
of some 120 works will be exhibited for the first time at the Musée
de l’Elysée, displaying different aspects of Howard Greenberg’s
interests, from the Modern aesthetics approach of the 20s and
30s with works by Edward Steichen, Edward Weston or the Czech
School to Contemporary photographers such as Minor White, Harry
Callahan and Robert Frank. Humanist photography is particularly
well represented, including among others, Lewis Hine and David
Seymour. An important section is dedicated to the Farm Security
Administration’s photographers, who where witnesses to the Great
Depression years of the 30s, such as Walker Evans or Dorothea
Lange. Above all, the collection demonstrates the great influence of
New York in the history of 20th century photography: architecture
and urban life are conveyed in the images of Berenice Abbott,
Weegee, Leon Levinstein, Lee Friedlander.
Commending its work and significance, and wishing to make his
private collection available to a wider audience, Howard Greenberg
selected the Musée de l’Elysée to display his collection.
The Musée de l’Elysée and the Fondation Henry Cartier-Bresson
jointly produce this exhibition.
Catalogue
The catalogue, published by Steidl, (224 pp., 145 plates) includes a
conversation between Howard Greenberg and Sam Stourdzé. This
publication is made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of
the Musée de l’Elysée.
Curators
Sam Stourdzé and Anne Lacoste, Musée de l’Elysée
and Agnès Sire, Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
Press Conference
Thursday 20 September 2012 at 10am
Opening
Thursday 20 September 2012 at 6pm
Press Images
All images featured in this Press Kit are available for use by the
press. The use of these images is limited to the promotion of the
exhibition presented at the Musée de l’Elysée. They must not be
altered in any way and must mention the whole caption as well as
the copyright.
To download these images, please contact the press office:
Agata Ubysz
+41 (0)21 316 99 27
agata.ubysz@vd.ch
Cover: Still Photography, Freaks, 1932. Collection Praloran, Zürich
Dorothea Lange, Migratory Cotton Picker, Eloy, Arizona, 1940 © Library of Congress. Courtesy Collection Howard Greenberg
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Seville, Spain, 1933 © Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos. Courtesy Fondation HCB and Collection Howard Greenberg
Private Collections
Press release
Freaks, The Monstrous Parade
From 21 September 2012 to 6 January 2013
American director Tod Browning (1880-1962) has a particular
attraction for the uncanny. Freaks, his cult movie shot in 1932, is
inspired by a short story written by Clarence Aaron « Tod » Robbins.
Set in a circus, the performers are disabled actors. The movie
caused tremendous scandals when it was released and Freaks
was soon censored, reedited, shortened, sometimes removed
from theaters, and even forbidden is some countries. Not until
the 1960s, when it was presented at the Cannes Festival, was the
movie acclaimed to the point of becoming a reference for artists
such as Diane Arbus or David Lynch.
The Musée de l’Elysée presents a selection of some
50 vintage black and white silver prints from Zurich-based Enrico
Praloran’s collection.
The catalogue, published by IDPure (approximately 96 pp., 50
plates, essay by Tom Cull), was made possible thanks to the
support of the Friends of the Musée de l’Elysée.
Curators
Sam Stourdzé and Anne Lacoste, Musée de l’Elysée
Luciano Rigolini, Concept Car
From 21 September 2012 to 6 January 2013
Born in Ticino in 1950, the artist Luciano Rigolini’s interest
for vernacular photography questions this particular mode of
representation of the real. He carefully collects neutral images
of objects or urban furniture, removed of any human presence
or trace, such as the photographs made for sales or industrial
documentation catalogues. With Concept Car, Luciano Rigolini
deals with the theme of the car. Collected, found on Internet,
presented as such, or thoroughly retouched and greatly enlarged,
Luciano Rigolini’s photographs reveal an aesthetic approach filled
with sculptural, pictorial, and metaphorical qualities, all the while
suggesting a reflection about our ability to see and perceive.
Concept Car will present four series, including Surrogates: 125
photographs of spare parts for vintage cars and industrial vehicles,
collected on eBay. Surrogates will be simultaneously shown at the
Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris and at the Musée de l’Elysée. The
catalogue, co-published by the Musée de l’Elysée and the Centre
Culturel Suisse, was made possible thanks to the support of the
Friends of the Musée de l’Elysée.
Curators
Sam Stourdzé and Anne Lacoste, Musée de l’Elysée
Still Photography, Freaks, 1932. Collection Praloran, Zürich
Industrial Document, 1978. Courtesy Luciano Rigolini. Collection Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne
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Private Collections
The Musée de l’Elysée
History
The Musée de l’Elysée is one the world’s leading museums entirely
dedicated to photography. Since its establishment in 1985, it has
improved public understanding of photography through innovative
exhibitions, key publications and engaging events.
Recognised as a centre of expertise in the field of conservation
and enhancement of visual heritage, it holds a unique collection
of more than 100,000 prints and preserves several photographic
archives, in particular that of Charlie Chaplin. By supporting
young photographers, offering new perspectives on the masters
and confronting photography with other art forms, the
Musée de l’Elysée experiments with the image.
Based in Switzerland, it presents 4 major exhibitions in Lausanne
each year and an average of 15 in prestigious museums and
festivals around the world. Regional by character and international
in scope, it seeks to constantly develop new and exciting ways to
interact with audiences and collaborate with other institutions.
Collection
The Collection of the Musée de l’Elysée comprises approximately
44,000 original historical, modern and contemporary photographs.
Over 60,000 original prints are additionally included in the
iconographic Collection -an historical ensemble of photographs
gathered since the middle of the 19th century and preserved at first
by the Lausanne library before being hosted by the Musée de
l’Elysée.
Practical Information
Adress of the Musée de l’Elysée
18, avenue de l’Elysée
CH - 1014 Lausanne
T + 41 21 316 99 11
F + 41 21 316 99 12
www.elysee.ch
Opening hours
Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 6pm
Closed Monday, except for bank holidays
View of the Musée de l’Elysée @ Yves André
View of the library of the Musée de l’Elysée
Press release
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