03.07.09 - Contemporary photography

Axel Hütte and Ludovico Pratesi dialogue with the public at Fundación Proa

On Tursday 9, Friday 9th and Saturday 11th of July, Fundaión Proa welcomes  photographer Axel Hütte, both who will present a series of conferences, talks and guided visits on the works shown for the exhibtion Urban Spaces and also to discuss contemporary phtography.

Admission price: 10 ARS
Limited capcity
Reservations: infor@proa.org

To inquiere on the visitors life and work we present their biography and work:

On Friday 10th and Saturday 11th Axel Hütte will present his work at Fundación Proa

Born in 1951 in Essen, Germany, were he now lives and works.  Between 1973 and 1981 attends The Dusseldorf School of Photography, where Bernd Beche taught. His first exhibition was in 1984 at Conrad Fischer Gallery in Düsseldorf. Since then, his held solo exhibtions through Europe, Japan and the United States.
    His work is considered to be a form of realism, since his photographs document natural, urban, industrial, and architectural landscapes landscapes, with a particular point of view. The composition of his shots appear to be well though out, showing unique colors, geometric shapes and great detail. Recetly his been searching for photographs that show landscapes or objects not seen by the common eye.
During his interview wit Ludovico Pratesi, the photographer stated “…After an architecture series in the 80’ showing hallways, underground stations or in general empty public spaces interior but also exterior (like street corner scenes in Venice and London) I started the night series titled “As dark as light” 1998. Mysterious illumination in the landscape and later urban views from skyscrapers towards the darkness or partial illuminated architecture were the focus of my work.”

Since the mid 90´s onwards, the nightlife light becomes its territory of privileged inquiry. In visual conditions always to the limit, the artist captures the myriad facets that the city can assume during the night: with very long exposure times, he shows elements that the human eye would not be able to perceive. By printing the photograph on a special film and placing it against a reflective surface that intensifies the transforming power of the shadows, Hütte amplifies the effects provided by the nightlife light.

In the "black" waters of the Mississippi River (Minneapolis, Mississippi, 2006) the urban area lights are reflected, creating a twinkling game of colours as if it were a festive fireworks counterpoint. In Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, 2003, shows the vision of the city, goal and dream of many tourists. In the foreground, on the right angle, the silhouette of the hotel with its golden buttresses becomes a frame against the black sky which occupies almost the entire image. The lights of the city constitute just the stage for the night, real protagonist of the entire photograph, turning the urban space intangible and insubstantial. Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, 2003 – Minneapolis, Mississipi, 2006

On Thursday 9th Ludovico Pratesi we will be presenting the exhibtion at 5:30 pm. He will also be be hosting guided visits. on Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 at 4 pm

Born in Rome, 15 april 1961, lives in Rome. He has a BA in Law and a BA in History of Modern Art at the University of Rome. He writes art reviews for the newspaper La Repubblica. He wrote for the French newspaper Le Monde from 1994 to 2000. From 2002 to 2005 he was the Artistic Consultant for the city of Bari. Since December 2000, he is the Artistic Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Pesaro.  Since 2009 he is curator for Palazzo Fabroni, a contemporary art museum in Pistoia (Tuscany). Since 2004 he is the artistic director of Fondazione Guastalla, based in Rome. From 1998 to 2008 he was professor of  History of Contemporary Art at the University of Reggio Calabria. He has curated various exhibits of Italian and international artists such as: Candida Höfer, Giuseppe Penone, Enzo Cucchi, Tony Cragg, Marina Abramovic, Joseph Kosuth, John Cage, Domenico Bianchi, Mimmo Paladino, Cristiano Pintaldi, Francesco Gennari, Stefano Arienti, and Vedovamazzei. He is currently the president of the Italian section of AICA (International Association of Art Critics).