Rare, influential photos on display
Portfolio by groundbreaking US artist Diane Arbus comes to City Gallery Wellington on the centenary of her birth
Arare and influential portfolio of photographs is on display at the City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi. A Box of Ten Photographs ,by acclaimed US artist Diane Arbus (1923-1971), is on loan from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia.
City Gallery Wellington senior curator Aaron Lister said the centenary of Arbus’ birth was the perfect moment to bring the legendary portfolio to New Zealand for the first time.
“Arbus’ portfolio blew apart the idea of what photography could be or do and elevated its status as an art form.”
Arbus originally planned the portfolio as an edition of 50, but when she died in 1971, she had only printed the first eight sets, and had sold four. When Artforum published a cover story featuring work from the portfolio in 1971, it was the first-time photography had been featured in the magazine and on the cover.
“What changed everything was the portfolio itself . . . with Diane Arbus, one could find oneself interested in photography or not, but one could no longer, it seemed to me, deny its status as art,” Artforum editor Philip Leider said.
A year later, the portfolio was exhibited in the American pavilion at the Venice Biennale — the first time photographs were presented in the Biennale.
Lister said A Box of Ten Photographs encapsulated Arbus’ motivations and vision for her own work.
“In making the portfolio, Arbus essentially curated this exhibition and set the terms of encounter by selecting the images and writing the captions.
“My job was to secure the portfolio.”
This is just the second time an Arbus exhibition has come to New Zealand.
The first in 1978-79 toured eight galleries, including the National Museum of Art (now Te Papa Tongarewa) and Lower Hutt’s The Dowse Art Museum.
The exhibition was curated by Doon Arbus and Marvin Israel, and also toured Japan and Europe.
“It was the first monographic exhibition by an international contemporary photographer staged in this country, it drew record crowds and had a substantial impact on photographers here.
“She is one of the most original and important artists of the 20th century, and this portfolio must be considered one of the most important artworks of that period too.”