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Absolute calm. Photographic works by Urgen Klauke

23 August - 15 October 2001
Benois Wing

The exhibition presents the works of the contemporary German artist, photographer, performansist Urgen Klauke for the first time in Russia. In the history of the development of German photography in 1970-1990-ies U.Klauke undertook the role of a innovator. He was one of the first who gave an impetus in early 1970-ies to the radical change of photography as a mere documental media into the new and independent language of art. He made his own body the central theme of his early works, thus having determined the body-art development. In the mid 1970-ies U.Klauke impressed public with his bright performances, the majority of which became the material for his photographic works. He united performance, body-art and photography into a new phenomenon and personified the transition from modernism to postmodernism. Since late 1980-ies the artist doesn't include the image of his body and face into his photo series. This period of work is devoted to depicting objects and emotions bound with them. The third global period of his creative work is characterized by the rejection of reality: instead of objects and people U.Klauke makes compositions of the traces of light on the screen. This evolution is documented in his 'Prosecuritas' cycle, which takes its honorable place in the German art history.