The photos I am going to show you today are from a solo exhibition I visited in August and have been postponing posting about it as it requires more time as usual.
It was a solo exhibition of Claudiu Szabó and the particularity of it was that each photo had a short story or a story in form of a poem attached to it, with a deep meaning. We are always wondering what the artist, or photographer meant when creating the painting or photo. Now we know. This is quite unique I think as you don't see many artists doing it, but it's an excellent way of expression in my opinion.
Ladies Waltz
I would like to be surrounded by light so that I can shine.
I would like to give up the mask, to stop hiding.
I would like to have the courage to take the step.
I want him to feel. And if he feels it, let him do it with me.
I wish it wasn't a dream.
Now, after knowing what the photographer meant with this scene, you go back and have another look, would you have known without an explanation? I don't think so. In my eyes, this is much more than photography, it's a composition and has a lot of value. It's close to my art project I'm working on, but it's not the same.
If you look at the short poem next to the photograph, can you recognize yourself in some way or to some extent?
My girlfriend
That's how I am, always the same ... a clown.
Only she is with me. She tells me everything even without words, her look cannot lie. I know she doesn't like to be contradicted, but she likes to be believed. It seems somewhat dishonest to me, that I can only smile at him. And she smiled at me once... I think. But let me tell you a secret...
I was trying to figure out if the water or foam on the windshield means something. Most likely the shots have been taken at a car wash. However, the lady is talking about the mascot hanging down from the mirror.
My friend behind the wheel
I'm not alone.
I know that she is with me, because I take care that she is. She listens to me, keeps me in touch with the world, a world that only pretends, that takes advantage, that has no time for me. I can say anything, she doesn't get angry, she doesn't interrupt me, she lets me be who I want to be. She sees me when I laugh, when I bite my lips, when I hide my eyes or breathe a sigh of relief. She sees me, and ... she is silent. She never contradicts me or asks me for explanations. Will she be thinking that she knows everything?
Ha ha, what a clown!
But I'm not alone.
Two different scenes with the same protagonists. Two different monologues about the same thing.
At this point I suppose we are all curious to know the answer to the following questions:
Each photo is a long story with a lot of meaning and this time it wasn't just what you saw or thought you understand. Some people go through such an exhibition in 2 minutes and already forgetting everything the minute they step out of the gallery, but this wasn't such an exhibition. You could spend 5 minutes with each photo, reading the text and trying to see what the photographer meant.
A must take photo, without which I can't leave the gallery.
Stages
Now I know that the storm is coming, that vengeful storm, which will subject me to the torment of my own rebirth. Believing in its rightness, I will convince it to turn into rain, that beneficial, nourishing, vital rain for returning to verticality, to feel again. And everything around me will be renewed, I will be able to give up the heavy armor in which I was hiding from the old world.
And if it will be, I accept the flood.
For me, this photo is the winner today. I don't know how it was taken, if it is staged or not. It doesn't matter if it is staged, but if it is, it's a brilliant one.
Choosing black and white for these photos was also a very inspired decision. Details are more important here, than colors, so rather shut colors out and focus on the meaning.
This time I chose to reveal very little about what I think or how I see these compositions, apart from the fact that I love them and find them brilliant. I want to let you look at the photos, read the text and form your impression on your own.
Let me know what you think about it. Have you ever seen such an exhibition? Is this totally new to you?
If you're a newbie, you may want to check out these guides:
