I was very excited to learn about the new Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City. But I missed the opening exhibition of LA Photographers which included Julius Schulman, the master architectural photographer who died just this month.
O and I went to see their second installation- PICTURES OF THE YEAR: VISIONS OF EXCELLENCE- THE WORLD IN HIGH RESOLUTION. If you're an avid news junkie, you'll have seen many of the photos published in Time, Newsweek, Reuters or countless other domestic and international news outlets this last year. But it's amazing to see the pictures in print and digital, right in your face, with stories behind them. They evoke far more emotion than if I read it on page 20 in the LA Times.
When these images are presented in a news format, there is a distance set between you and the subject. While you feel some empathy, it somehow doesn't have quite the punch when you can see into the subject's eyes.
There was one image of a throng of people in Haiti surrounding a man holding the naked, lifeless body of a young girl. Her name is Tamesha. She was swept from her bed after a hurricane flood. I can imagine the photo being published in some newspaper, in print or on-line.
The situation is tragic. But set against so many tragic stories, one is numbed by the report of yet another plight. So to be honest, and I hope I don't come off sounding disrespectful or even flippant ('cause it isn't meant to be), it probably wouldn't punch me in the gut like it did looking at it up close.
The print was large enough for me to see the child's partially closed eyes that was filled with gunk. Her little feet dangling, not from carefreeness but from lack of life force. The pain of the people surrounding this unfortunate event is all too visible within their eyes and facial expressions. You could sense their feeling of helplessness and surrender to the powers of nature after four consecutive storms.
I was choking up inside as I read the caption and looked at Tamesha's eyes. The picture is called "Angel" by Patrick Farrell of the Miami Herald (see photo).
Similarily, I was horrified when I saw a picture of a 7 year old boy named Lawiland, screaming in terror as a policeman approaches him with a baton in Nairobi. The police were searching protesters and supporters of Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Not only do you see the fear in the child's eyes, but you can project yourself into his future. If he ever survives to have one. You can feel how this child could grow up with hate and embody it. He could become the policeman with the baton in the picture, who is represents a government. His job is supposed to look after the welfare of its people. 'To protect and serve' so to speak. But instead, his job is to censure and silence all opposition with brutal force.
Chills went up my spine as I imagined myself in the boy's shoes. The reality of oppression and depression hit me on the head. The picture is called "Monday Screams" by Walter Astrada - Agence France-Presse (see photo)
On the other hand, the photo of the whale who was curious about the man on the sea floor, brought a smile and a chuckle to my heart. It is a lesson on respect for each other, even when they don't know each other. If only humans would take a cue from this photo. Why can't we just be curious and learn? The photo is titled, "First Encounter" by Brian Skerry of National Geographic (see photo).
As for the much touted space designed by AECOM Design, it is actually disappointing. It was supposed to be inspired by the mechanics of a camera. Frankly, it felt like a watered down idea. You really don't get a sense that you are walking through the inside mechanics of a camera.
They have curtains of metal beads hanging to represent the metal aperture curtain. This is the biggest B.S. I have ever heard. The symbolic connection is non-existent. The only time that there is some reference to camera is when you are in the main video room. And there's a huge missed opportunity as they were vaguely trying to put you inside a lens aperture.
The whole exhibit space feels like you're walking through the left over interstitial space (i.e. from the main video room), rather than a deliberately designed space for viewing images. This is especially true when you find yourself in the hallway where the toilets are and prints and video screens are on display there. It was just awkward to view images next to the toilet. I felt bad for the photographers whose works were relegated to this area.
The lighting had no drama, nor was it the best for viewing images. You'd think a place designed for image viewing, would spend much of its efforts on lighting.
All in all, the space just felt like a corporate fulfillment of a planning requirement of the city. The city looked at the huge office development and decided that in order for the buildings to be developed, the developer had to give back something to the community. So the Annenberg Foundation jumped at the chance to put into the community building, a photo space. Here we are today with a 'free to the public' space.
BTW- I like the fact that they don't call it a museum. It doesn't make precious the objects we view.
I do love that it is in the middle of where people work. It's great to inspire every day life with a little art. Actually, I'm really hoping that the images they show will bring a little humanity to the often cut throat lawyers, agents and bankers who work in the area. It would be interesting to survey the museum patrons and see what percentage of patrons work in the area.
The visit was definitely worth it. Try to give yourself some time to study the photos. The photos are presented in print as well as via large video screens. They have a couple of the Microsoft interactive screens where you can go through photos with the touch screen technology similar to the IPOD technology or CNN's interactive display screen.
July 11 - Nov 1
Century Park
2000 Avenue of the Stars, #10
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Tel: (213) 403 3000
Wed-Sun 11am-6pm
Photos from Picture of The Year International
University of Missouri
Missouri School of Journalism
Administrative Offices, Suite 300
Columbia, MO 65211
Tel: (573) 822 2922
www.poyi.org
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