LEICA Barnack Berek Blog: EXHIBITIONS AT LEICA CAMERA AG IN WETZLAR

Friday, October 17, 2014

EXHIBITIONS AT LEICA CAMERA AG IN WETZLAR

<p>Das Leica-Foyer im Zeichen der M. "Magic Moments" heißt die Ausstellung, die Arbeiten von 58 Fotografen zeigt, die mit dieser Kamera arbeiten. (Fotos: Heiland)</p>

Photo: Heiland

Leica Camera AG has much to celebrate: 100 years of Leica photography and 60 years of Leica M. For that reason three exhibitions were opened on Thursday night in front of around 60 guests.

One of the exhibitions is titled "Magic Moments - 60 Years Leica M,” a selection of top-class recordings of 58 Leica photographers of the past 60 years. Shown are images of Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles, of anonymous travelers, children playing, and passers-by.

Another exhibition is the project "100 photographers - 100 portraits" of the American photographer Claire Yaffa , all black and white portraits of the personalities behind the camera, a goal which she pursued since the mid-60s. Even Henri Cartier-Bresson made an exception for her and was photographed for her project “Who’s who of the Great Photographic Personalities.”

Claire Yaffa

Photo: José Manuel Serrano Esparza

Curator Karin Rehn-Kaufmann praised Yaffa’s sensitivity with which she pursued her project of 48 years. Yaffa talked about the origin of the photos of her colleagues, especially her "Leica-friends". She said: "I love what I do and I love the people I photograph."

Karin Rehn-Kaufmann with Dr. Andreas Kaufmann,

Chairman of the Supervisoty board of Leica Camera AG

In the third exhibition the visitor will find 45 treasures from the collection of the Leica Museum, especially pieces from 60 years of Leica M. In addition to rare prototypes and experimental models are cameras of famous personalities such as Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth using a Leica M3

In addition Leica welcomed another star photographer: Thomas Hoepker. He talked about why the Leica M is more to him than just a "great tool", and he presented and signed his new book "Wanderlust" in the Leica store.

Last but not least the artist Alfons Alt was honored. He designed the expansive windows called “Kreiswerk" at the end of the foyer, in which he looks at the universal symbol of the circle in in a variety of techniques.

Wetzlar mayor Wolfram Dette praised the diversity of the Leica Gallery as an"extraordinary symbiosis between outstanding technology, architecture and space in which art and culture can flourish."

The exhibitions are on view until January 4. They are open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm clock and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is free.

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