Helmut Newtons Grand Palais Exhibition in Paris, 24 March 30 July 2012 - Article Example

Helmut Newton (1920-2004), a German-born Australian photographer, owes his fame for the strikingly innovative renderings of the black-and-white erotic photographs featuring mainly nude female models, often with their (dressed) male companions. The manner of photographing presented by Newton has drawn attention of many critics and viewers alike to the provocative artist, sealing his popularity as one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century. The Helmut Newton’s Exhibition currently being held at Le Grand Palais (Paris, les Champs Elysees) features more than 200 of the late artist’s works, together with a biographical film produced by the late photographer’s widow, June Newton (Helmut by June). The main purpose of the Exhibition is to acquaint the French and European public with Newton’s life and creative works. The Exhibition lays bare the major themes of Newton’s photography: sensual (and sexual) virility, fashion, luxury and power accompanying the lifestyle of his models. Newton relies both on vintage and Polaroid techniques, as well as on more conventional photography, to convey the sense of power and excitement, with the violent overtones, which find their place in the life of the fashionable circles whose members are his main protagonists. Fig. 1. Catherine Deneuve (1976). The photographer paid special attention to the rendition of female nudes. In Newton’s artistic world, a female heroine is usually rich, confident and beautiful, with innate sense of fashion and sexual allure. She knows how to present her beauty to the spectators, as it is the main feature of the artist’s photos. Newton was influenced by the ideas of Sexual Revolution that engulfed the West after the 1960s. His libertine and self-confident female characters that represent a drastic break with the traditionally demure ideas of feminine beauty are direct testimony thereto. At the same time, the Newtonian photography is unmistakably classical both in its composition and form. The clothed and nude figures of his models of both sexes are rendered in the manner clearly inspired more by the classical ideas of bodily perfection than by the modernist and post-modern emphasis on the marginal and unusual. Newton is definitely in favor of the idea of perfect body currently frowned upon by the ‘critical’ intellectuals. His bringing together of the ideas of sexual pleasure and body perfection is clearly provocative in itself, as it flies in face of both primitive moralists and extreme feminists that are bizarrely combined in the strange crusade against ‘commercial nudity’. On the other hand, the photographic heritage of Newton presents a rich and vivid picture of the world of fashion and beauty that is frequently invoked when dealing with Paris and its cultural life. The viewers are lucky to have a glimpse of the 1960s to 1990s fashion life, with elegant female models presenting both glamorous and provocative outfits to their gaze. The photography by Newton fully demonstrates the technical capacities of Polaroid and vintage photo art. The black-and-white renderings of the female models in this case enhance the feelings of ‘classical’ approach of the artist, making the viewers engulfed further by his imagination. Fig. 2. YSL, Rue Aubriot (1975). On the other hand, the sado-masochistic themes found in some of the photographs that are likewise presented at this exhibition reveal the darker side of human sexuality explored by Newton. The themes of seduction and domination serve to underscore the feeling of emerging feminine power and mystique that are contained in the other Newton’s photos. The subtle feelings of sexual ‘decadence’ that goes hand in hand with power and luxury, dominate this part of the photo collection. The Newtonian take on sexual and sensual life of his characters is, therefore, rather libertine and open-handed. The artist seems to dismiss all conventional moralistic prescriptions that used to limit the imagination and artistic creativity of Newton’s precursors. The sexually liberated woman is virtually hailed and deified in Newton’s photography. The strongly dominant postures of many nude models presented by Newton belie the increasingly confident positions that came to be assumed by the European women with the advent of the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s. Fig. 3. Bergstrom over Paris (1976). The quest for the new femininity that is expressed in Newton’s models reflects the growing attention to the bodily and carnal images that is exposed in the majority of modern erotic photography. That is why, despite its classicism, Newton may be firmly located in the ranks of the photographers that gave birth to modern and post-modern reflections of sexuality and feminine mystique. The Exhibition is situated at the Southeast Gallery of Grand Palais (Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris), the famed museum and exhibition center of modern France. The easiest access to the Grand Palais is through the Paris Metro (Lines 1, 9 and 13; Champs-Elysées Clémenceau or Franklin-Roosevelt Stations). The information about exact photos that are presented at the exhibition may be found in the catalogue attached to this brochure. ENTRY HOURS: The Exhibition is opened to visitors from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., every day from 24 March to 30 July 2012, with the exception of 1 May. Please note that the previously given date of closing of the exhibition (i.e. 17 June) is now superseded, as the exhibition has been extended till the end of the July. PRICE OF ENTRY: The price of entry is calculated in Euros in accordance with the age category of the visitors. The full price for adults is €11; for young adults (13-25-year old) - €8; the entry is free for pre-adolescents (younger than 13 year old). Please note that some images in the exhibition may offend the sensibilities of the young audience. You may purchase a combined ticket to both Helmut Newton and the Beauté animale Exhibitions. In this case, the full price shall be €20, reduced price - €16. We would like to extend our earnest greetings to all the visitors of our Exhibition, and voice a hope that their experience at the Exhibition may make them more appreciative of the world of fashion, sexuality and luxury. Read More