In the last week of January, on the occasion of Arte Fiera 2016, the MAST Foundation opened two exhibitions devoted to the Swiss photographer Jakob Tuggener (1904–1988), whose work is being shown in Italy for the first time.
The first exhibit, entitled Fabrik 1933-1953. Poetic and expressionistic vision in industrial images projections, presents over 150 original prints of Tuggener’s work, drawn both from his photographic book FABRIK – an essay unique in its kind, with a critical approach of great visual and human impact regarding the relationship between humans and machines – and from other photos by the artist dealing with work in his country. FABRIK came out in 1943, when the Second World War was at its height, and Tuggener, besides tracing the history of industrialization, had the not always revealed intention to illustrate the destructive potential of indiscriminate technological progress. The outcome of this, in the author’s view, was the war in progress, for which the Swiss armaments industry was manufacturing goods undisturbed. The second exhibition, entitled Nuits de bal 1934-1950. Balls in Swiss high society and the invisible work, offers a series of photographs of balls and other high-society events. Fascinated by the glittering atmosphere of high-society parties, Tuggener had begun to photograph elegant ladies and their silk gowns in Berlin, but it was in Zurich and St Moritz that, wearing a dinner jacket and with his Leica, he captured the mysterious facets of the Nuits de bal. His lens also took in the invisible labour of musicians, waiters, cooks, valets and butlers, as they silently moved through the festive and self-referential world of the heedless guests. The latter opposed the publication of Tuggener’s dance-related material, as they wished to remain anonymous and not to be seen engaged in dancing entertainment. The contrast between the brightly lit dance room and the dark factory ball characterized his artistic work. To represent the eclectic and exceptional nature of the artist, the exhibition has also been enriched with full-length films and book prototypes. Tuggener described himself as «a poet of the image», who, besides using a camera, was interested in painting and directed films, drawing inspiration from the German Expressionism of the 1920s. He was an observer and a masterly interpreter of the world of strong contrasts. As he liked to say of himself: «Silk and machines, that’s Tuggener».
Curated by Martin Gasser and Urs Stahel, the exhibitions are promoted by MAST Foundation in conjunction with: Jakob Tuggener Foundation, Uster and Swiss Foundation of Photography, Winterthur.
Fabrik 1933-1953. Poetic and expressionistic vision in industrial images projections
Nuits de bal 1934-1950. Balls in Swiss high society and the invisible work
MAST Foundation, via Speranza, 42 - Bologna (Italy)
27 January – 17 April 2016
opening times: from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am - 7 pm | closed on Mondays
admission fee: free
info: segreteria@fondazionemast.org
www.mast.org
– – –
[ INTERNAL RESOURCES ]
◉ [ critical notes ] Industrial photography on FPmag: Emil Otto Hoppé and Stefano Robino
◉ [ critical notes ] A French festival dedicated to industrial photography
◉ [ events ] Foto/Industria 2015
[ EXTERNAL RESOURCES ]
◎ Arte Fiera 2016
◎ MAST Foundation
published on 2016-02-08 in NEWS / EXHIBITIONS
MASTbologna UrsStahel MartinGasser JakobTuggenerFPmag
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