OPENING: RUTH ORKIN – A Photo Spirit

The event is sold out!

Wir laden Sie herzlich ein zur Eröffnung der Ausstellung

RUTH ORKIN – A Photo Spirit

Speakers: Katharina Mouratidi, Artistic Director f³ – freiraum für fotografie, Nicola von Velsen (Publishing Management Hatje Cantz) and Nadine Barth, Curator and Consultant of Photography Hatje Cantz.

With its first solo exhibition in Germany, f³ – freiraum für fotografie honors the American photographer Ruth Orkin, a chronicler of the 1940s and 1950s.

Everyday scenes, cityscapes, portraits. Ruth Orkin’s photographs tell stories. Of the up-and-coming America of the post-war period, of the attitude to life of a society on the upswing and of women conquering new roles beyond that of housewife and mother. Her humorous yet serious view of the world is evident in the details of the images, in her sense of movement, timing and composition.

Ruth Orkin is one of the few professional women photographers of the 1940s and 1950s. Although she published in numerous newspapers and magazines such as the New York Times, Life or Look and her photographs were part of the legendary MOMA exhibition The Family of Man, she is still little known internationally. In contrast to many of her male colleagues, whose works are among the icons of street photography. One of her most famous images is the photograph American Girl in Italy. For the photograph, she portrayed her travel acquaintance Ninalee Craig (Jinx Allen) surrounded by men in Florence in 1951.

Throughout her life and work, Ruth Orkin has experienced, reflected and subverted society’s expectations. Her photographs are modern, free and perceptive commentaries on those times. Ruth Orkin would have turned 100 on September 3, 2021.

In Cooperation with: Hatje&Cantz.

Media partner: Photography in Berlin.

Supported by: