assemblage

bitforms:

Gold gold gold. #yaelkanarek #highperformancegear

bitforms:

#deeplyconcentric #yaelkanarek #highperformancegear #bitforms

On view at bitforms, NYC

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow, UK

Eduardo Paolozzi, Real Gold, 1949

Tate

Man Ray Portraits, National Portrait Gallery

Through the 27 May

Having studied Man Ray’s art and his integral relationships with some of my favorite writers (such as Gertrude Stein), I was looking forward to seeing this exhibition which would not only showcase his skill as a portrait photographer but also highlight his central role in the 20th century international art scene. The show certainly did emphasize his relations, but perhaps at the expense of his skill as a photographer. The wall text accompanying the photographs focused on who was in the images rather than how it was taken. This does make sense considering that the show is at the National Portrait Gallery, but I would have liked a bit more information on his technical developments and processes. Also, the space was particularly tight, as the show was arranged in a U shaped hallway. Although the small vintage photographs may have lost their presence in a large open room, with the popularity of the show, it was difficult to get close tot the images or to see both walls of each hallway because they were so narrow.

Overall I did enjoy the work in the show and would recommend visiting it (on a less busy morning). But do not expect it to be a show about May Ray as a photographer, but rather a show about May Ray’s relations as documented by his photographs.