Friday, October 30, 2009
The power of observation
NZ Herald: Saturday Oct 10, 2009
Marti Friedlander calls the new book by art historian Leonard Bell on her life's work a love story.
"Leonard Bell decided he wanted to write about my photography and I feel it's a gift to me to have someone write about my work with such understanding. In a way it's a kind of love story. One feels very touched by that. It's beautifully written."
There's another love story, too, the one that got a free-spirited Londoner to New Zealand half a century ago.
Gerrard Friedlander is sitting at a nearby table in the Parnell cafe where I meet the photographer, perhaps in case she wants to abort the interview - he leaves only after she's gone. She quizzed me about why I want to write about her, and then agreed to answer questions.
"Why does one need to expose oneself?" asks the woman whose images strip away psychological layers from her subjects.
I suggest that she's an interesting photographer because of the way she has put herself in all sorts of extraordinary situations.
Read more... ¶ 8:56 pm
Marti Friedlander calls the new book by art historian Leonard Bell on her life's work a love story.
"Leonard Bell decided he wanted to write about my photography and I feel it's a gift to me to have someone write about my work with such understanding. In a way it's a kind of love story. One feels very touched by that. It's beautifully written."
There's another love story, too, the one that got a free-spirited Londoner to New Zealand half a century ago.
Gerrard Friedlander is sitting at a nearby table in the Parnell cafe where I meet the photographer, perhaps in case she wants to abort the interview - he leaves only after she's gone. She quizzed me about why I want to write about her, and then agreed to answer questions.
"Why does one need to expose oneself?" asks the woman whose images strip away psychological layers from her subjects.
I suggest that she's an interesting photographer because of the way she has put herself in all sorts of extraordinary situations.
Read more... ¶ 8:56 pm
