Photography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte
One of the items on our agenda for our time in Charlotte was a photography show titled ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. (link)
Photography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlottePhotography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte
Schwarzenbach was a Swiss writer, journalist and photographer with an interesting history. Her lifestyle would probably fit in pretty well today, but between that and her anti-Fascist campaigning made her an outcast forced her into exile. As a result she spent much of her time traveling the world, writing and photographing. Her work as a journalist, coupled with her upper-class background and her status as the wife of French diplomat Claude Clarac granted her extraordinary freedom of travel for the period.
Photography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlottePhotography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlottePhotography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlottePhotography exhibition ‘Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Departure without Destination’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte
The Bechtler exhibit represents work from her travels throughout the world, including the southeastern US in 1936-1938 and features archival material, film, and 200 photographs drawn from the approximately 7,000 photographs in the Schwarzenbach’s estate, which is held in the Swiss Literary Archives in Bern, Switzerland.
“I only ask myself – and every day it becomes more urgent – if people actually realize the significance of what is taking place – namely, that not only a hateful tendency is gaining the upper hand here but also that an entire people, and in spite of it all a highly telented one that cannot be erased from the history of Eurorpean culture – is committed to this path […] for years to come. […] Oppositiion would not take the form of escape or renunciation […], but rather the cultivation of the intellectual and spiritual values in which one believes, until a better hour.” Letter from Annemarie Schwarzenbach to Klaus Mann, April 8, 1933
I had never heard of Schwarzenbach before learning about this show, and found it to a fascinating look at the world of her time. The show runs through 7/31/22.
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlotteBechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlotteBechtler Museum of Modern Art in CharlotteBechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte
5 thoughts on “A Photography Exhibit In Charlotte”
Now that is where I’d like to spend a hot muggy afternoon in Charlotte. I’ve never heard of her either and will do some investigating. She had a lot of work!
Wow! I just read up on her life. What an interesting life she lived but a short one. Very talented and intelligent woman. And, the tragedy of life’s twists and turns were apparent.
Yes, it was an interesting exhibit and an excellent way to beat the heat for a few hours. She lived quite an interesting, albeit short, life. Hers is an example of how little ‘real’ adventure we actually do today, even though it feels like a lot to us!
Totally unfamiliar with her so thanks for the intro. That blurb from the wall,
“I only ask myself – and every day it becomes more urgent – if people actually realize the significance of what is taking place – namely, that not only a hateful tendency is gaining the upper hand here but also that an entire people,”
seems eerily current.
I’ll have to look her up as that is a very extensive solo show they managed to put together. I was listening to an interview of Alan Schaller (Brit street photographer) about how current photography will someday be historical photography and what we see as commonplace today will be of greater interest 50 years from now. So, hold on to those ‘commonplace’ photos.
When I read that quote I had similar thoughts. Scary.
It’s interesting. When I look at photos like hers, many of them are ones I would consider ‘snapshots.’ But the historical perspective, especially in light of how they have become almost timeless, is what we don’t immediately appreciate.
I have similar thoughts about Vivian Maier. What she is being recognized for was probably not what she intended when she was making photographs either. Perhaps it is a matter of original intent, and a contrast between being documentary and trying to make a statement.
Now that is where I’d like to spend a hot muggy afternoon in Charlotte. I’ve never heard of her either and will do some investigating. She had a lot of work!
Wow! I just read up on her life. What an interesting life she lived but a short one. Very talented and intelligent woman. And, the tragedy of life’s twists and turns were apparent.
Yes, it was an interesting exhibit and an excellent way to beat the heat for a few hours. She lived quite an interesting, albeit short, life. Hers is an example of how little ‘real’ adventure we actually do today, even though it feels like a lot to us!
Totally unfamiliar with her so thanks for the intro. That blurb from the wall,
“I only ask myself – and every day it becomes more urgent – if people actually realize the significance of what is taking place – namely, that not only a hateful tendency is gaining the upper hand here but also that an entire people,”
seems eerily current.
I’ll have to look her up as that is a very extensive solo show they managed to put together. I was listening to an interview of Alan Schaller (Brit street photographer) about how current photography will someday be historical photography and what we see as commonplace today will be of greater interest 50 years from now. So, hold on to those ‘commonplace’ photos.
When I read that quote I had similar thoughts. Scary.
It’s interesting. When I look at photos like hers, many of them are ones I would consider ‘snapshots.’ But the historical perspective, especially in light of how they have become almost timeless, is what we don’t immediately appreciate.
I have similar thoughts about Vivian Maier. What she is being recognized for was probably not what she intended when she was making photographs either. Perhaps it is a matter of original intent, and a contrast between being documentary and trying to make a statement.