Rafael
Mandlerian
The National Gallery of Canada opened its Don McCullin: A Retrospective exhibition today. I believe that this is McCullin's first solo exhibition in Canada. For anyone in Ottawa, or for anyone looking for an excuse to visit Ottawa, this exhibition really is extraordinary.
Today for the opening, McCullin was actually present and gave a one-hour guided tour of the exhibition. He spoke of his beginnings as a photographer in London in the 1950s and commented on photographs that range from photographs of war to landscapes and still-lifes, and that span his entire career, right up to the present day. It really was a special experience to listen as he told stories and commented on some his best known, as well as some his much lesser-known, photographs. I was also very interested to learn that he does most of his own printing, including for exhibitions such as this one.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the talk came as he was discussing some of the photographs he made in Biafra in the late 60s. He told us that he was not proud of these photographs, but that they were intended to show the horrors that people can perpetrate upon other human beings. He then paused and remarked that, despite our knowledge of these horrors, people around the world continue to perpetrate similar atrocities. "So," he said, "my life really has been a complete waste." I'm not sure how seriously he intended this statement. But his sadness was unquestionably genuine.
On a lighter note, I was struck by a comment, he made at the very end of the talk. "The best camera in the world," he said, "is what goes on in here and up here" (he then pointed to his heart and to his head). "I use a camera like I use a toothbrush."
If you have the chance to see this exhibition, I highly recommend it.
Today for the opening, McCullin was actually present and gave a one-hour guided tour of the exhibition. He spoke of his beginnings as a photographer in London in the 1950s and commented on photographs that range from photographs of war to landscapes and still-lifes, and that span his entire career, right up to the present day. It really was a special experience to listen as he told stories and commented on some his best known, as well as some his much lesser-known, photographs. I was also very interested to learn that he does most of his own printing, including for exhibitions such as this one.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the talk came as he was discussing some of the photographs he made in Biafra in the late 60s. He told us that he was not proud of these photographs, but that they were intended to show the horrors that people can perpetrate upon other human beings. He then paused and remarked that, despite our knowledge of these horrors, people around the world continue to perpetrate similar atrocities. "So," he said, "my life really has been a complete waste." I'm not sure how seriously he intended this statement. But his sadness was unquestionably genuine.
On a lighter note, I was struck by a comment, he made at the very end of the talk. "The best camera in the world," he said, "is what goes on in here and up here" (he then pointed to his heart and to his head). "I use a camera like I use a toothbrush."
If you have the chance to see this exhibition, I highly recommend it.
