05 Dec 2012

Photorealism. Painting with a Camera at Kunsthalle Tübingen

PHOTOREALISM
Painting with a Camera
December 8, 2012–March 10, 2013

When the American Photorealists walked onto the stage in the mid-1960s with their illustrious paintings of our civilization, their painterly methods were believed to be sacrilegious: they used cameras for their pictorial composition, they employed photomechanical means in order to transfer their motifs to the canvas, and they also allowed the aesthetic arrangement of their compositions to be inspired by photography. With this open acknowledgment of modern imaging technology, the movement initiated a paradigm shift in art history that continues to influence contemporary trends in realistic painting. The large-scale traveling exhibition being launched in Tübingen is the first to pay comprehensive tribute to the founders of American Photorealism of the 1960s and 1970s with a selection of works by contemporary artists who have refined the photorealistic approach with today's phototechnical and digital possibilities. The first generation, which includes Robert Bechtle, Charles Bell, Tom Blackwell, Chuck Close, Robert Cottingham, Don Eddy, Richard Estes, Audrey Flack, Ralph Goings, Ron Kleemann, Richard McLean, Jack Mendenhall, and Ben Schonzeit, is represented with an exquisite selection of in part very famous major works, such as Estes's Telephone Booths or Goings's Airstream. The succeeding generation of Photorealists has an international lineup: Anthony Brunelli, Randy Dudley, Robert Gniewek, Clive Head, Gus Heinze, Don Jacot, Bertrand Meniel, Rod Penner, Bernardo Torrens, Roberto Bernardi, Peter Maier, Yigal Ozeri, Robert Neffson, and Raphaella Spence. Following the presentation at the Kunsthalle Tübingen, which is being mounted in cooperation with the Institut für Kulturaustausch in Tübingen, the exhibition will travel to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid.

Media conference: Thursday, December 6, 2012, 3:00 p.m.


Special Events:

Sunday, September 8, 2012, 3 – 4.30 p.m.
Artist Talk with Ben Johnson and Bernardo Torrens

Sunday, January 20, 2013, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Camera Lucida. A Demonstration by Frido Hohberger
In the Kunsthalle Tübingen Frido Hohberger shows how to create a portrait with a camera lucida. The visitors of the demonstration have the opportunity to try out this tempting easy drawing by means of this artful optical instrument from the 19th century.

Saturday, January 26, 2013, 11 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Lateral Thinking. Creative Photo Praxis with Robert Mertens
The successful author, photographer and photo trainer shows in this course how to awake photographic abilities. After a short visit of the exhibition which will begin at 11 a.m. in the Kunsthalle Tübingen, Mertens invites the participants to the Volkshochschule Tübingen in Katharinenstraße 18, Room 115 to try out lateral thinking – probably the most important precondition for creativity. After a short break, Mertens will give specific instructions and tips on topics like choice of the subject, photo techniques and image editing with Photoshop.
In collaboration with the Kreissparkasse Tübingen and the Volkshochschule Tübingen
Registration at
www.vhs-tuebingen.de, Course-Nr. Y21101

Wednesday, February 13. and 20, 2013, 4 – 5.30 p.m
Commitment to the Camera. Art Historical Course with Zita Hartel
In certain sense the history of Photorealism begins long before photography existed. Zita Hartel, scientific assistant at the Kunsthalle Tübingen, gives in an illustrated lecture a comprehensive insight into the interesting previous history on February 13, 2013 in the Volkshochschule Tübingen in the Katharinenstraße 13, Room 115. On February 20, 2013 she will guide through the Photorealism exhibition in the Kunsthalle Tübingen, to elaborate on the subject itself.
In collaboration with the Kreissparkasse Tübingen and the Volkshochschule Tübingen.
Registration at
www.vhs-tuebingen.de, Course No Y20305

Saturday February 16 and March 2, 2013, 3 - 5 p.m.
From Seeing to Image: Taking Better Photos with Any Camera
Hands-on workshop with American photographer L. Lee McIntyre
In English, in the German American Institute Tübingen,
Karlstr. 3, with a guided tour through the exhibition. Part II: April 20 and May 4, 2013.
In collaboration with the German American Institute
Registration at
www.dai-tuebingen.de

Saturday February March 2, 2013, 11.00 – 11.45 a.m.; 1.00 – 5.00 p.m.
Cityscapes. Art Praxis with Martina Nehr-Kley
After an exhibition tour, which starts at 11 a.m. in the Kunsthalle Tübingen, the participants of the course receive a practical introduction in the techniques of Photorealism in the Volkshochschule Tübingen, Katharinenstraße 18. The aim is to create a self-contained photorealistic painting.
In collaboration with the Volkshochschule Tübingen.
Registration at
www.vhs-tuebingen.de, Course No Y20530

Sunday, March 10, 2013, 3 p.m.
Photorealism Quiz
At the closing event, curator Daniel J. Schreiber guides a last time through the exhibition. Afterwards there are prizes to win in a quiz.


Catalogue:

Photorealism. 50 Years Hyperrealistic Painting, with text by Linda Chase, Nina S. Knoll, Otto Letze, Louis K. Meisel, Uwe M. Schneede and Daniel J. Schreiber, 200 pages, 91 color illustrations


Guided Tours:

Guided Tours for the Public
Saturdays at 3:00 p.m., Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
Fee per person: €2.50

Audio Guide
With a selection of ca. 21 works
Rental fee for the audio equipment: €4.00

Sunday, January 13, 2012, 4 p.m.
Guided tour with curator Daniel J. Schreiber

Thursday, January 31, 2013. 4 p.m.
Guided tour with Walter Springer and Frido Hohberger