WERNER BISCHOF PHOTOGRAPHS: 1932-1954

August 06, 2003

For Immediate Release: August 4, 2003

Exhibition Contact: Lynette Nyman, P.R. Manager, (612) 870-3173 Additional Media Contacts: Tammy Pleshek, P.R. Specialist, (612) 870-3171; Anne-Marie Wagener, Director of External Affairs, (612) 870-3280

“Werner Bischof Photographs: 1932–1954”

October 4, 2003–February 15, 2004

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Minneapolis—A new exhibition at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts presents the work of Swiss photographer Werner Bischof, one of the great photojournalists of the mid-twentieth century. “Werner Bischof Photographs: 1932–1954” is an exposition of humanism and ethics as expressed through Bischof’s brief but brilliant career. Bischof’s work and personal integrity have become touchstones for the values and ethics of the legendary Magnum Photos, a collective of like-minded photographers.

Opening October 4, “Werner Bischof Photographs: 1932–1954” will include more than sixty-five prints covering his Studio Period, Europe after the War, and Traveling the World. All photographs in the exhibition are from the Institute’s permanent collection and were acquired through the generosity of Alfred and Ingrid Lenz Harrison. This exhibition marks the first appearance of Bischof's photographs in the galleries of the Institute since his inclusion in the monumental “Family of Man” exhibition organized by Edward Steichen in 1955.

Born in Zürich, Switzerland, on April 26, 1916, Werner Bischof began his career in studio photography. Following service in the Swiss army, he documented scenes around Europe in the aftermath of World War II. Bischof joined Magnum Photos in 1949 and continued to focus on what he called the “face of human suffering.” One of his most well-known photo-essays, Famine in India, was published in Life magazine the same year. He also completed assignments in Korea, Okinawa and Japan. He covered the stories of refugees from Mao’s China and the war in Indochina. Bischof's numerous landmark photo essays in such publications as Life and the Swiss periodical DU established him as an accomplished journalist, but his highly refined aesthetic, his art, is his singular identity. Bischof died in May 1954, at the age of thirty-eight, while on assignment for Magnum and Life in Peru.

“Werner Bischof Photographs: 1932-1954” has been developed over the course of six years with the collaboration of Marco Bischof, Werner’s eldest son, who is principal of the Bischof archive in Zurich. His contributions have been invaluable, indeed essential. An interactive biographical CD-Rom, Werner Bischof: Life and Work of a Photographer, 1916-1954, has been created by Marco Bischof, with collaborators Carl Philabaum and Tania Kuhn. For the first time in the museum’s galleries this technology will be integrated with the presentation of photographic prints, adding a dimension of content and audience participation not previously possible.

“Werner Bischof Photographs: 1932-1954” will be on view from October 4, 2003, to February 15, 2004, in the museum’s Harrison Photography Gallery. Admission is free.

Related Public Programs: Lecture Critical Journey: The Photography of Werner Bischof Lecturer: Marco Bischof Saturday, October 4, 2 p.m., free Pillsbury Auditorium

Marco Bischof, son of Swiss photographer Werner Bischof and a documentary filmmaker, collaborated with Carl Philabaum and Tania Kuhn to create “Werner Bischof: Life and Work of a Photographer, 1916-1954,” an interactive biography on CD-ROM.

Based on the biography, Bischof’s lecture will address the development of twentieth-century photojournalism and explore how his father grappled with issues of objectivity and creativity while working for Du, LIFE, and Paris-Match magazines.

Family Ford Free Sundays: “Travel the World with Werner Bischof” Sunday, January 11, 2004, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., free Celebrate the life and art of photographer Werner Bischof through gallery games and drawing activities that teach about the making of photographs.

Youth Double Exposure: Exploring Art I and II October 11, 18, and 25 Using an instant camera, students will create a “travel journal” based on the life and work of photojournalist Werner Bischof and the Institute’s art collection from around the world.

Exploring Art I (Ages 4–6) Sec. F4: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sec. F5: 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Tuition for each section: $25 members; $34 nonmembers

Exploring Art II (Ages 6 & 7) Sec. F6: 1 to 3 a.m. Tuition: $ 32 members; $45 nonmembers

About The Minneapolis Institute of Arts Ranked among the top ten comprehensive U.S. art museums, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is dedicated to bringing art to life for everyone. In a beautiful landmark building near downtown Minneapolis, the museum houses over 100,000 works of art, representing more than 5,000 years of world history. General admission is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee. Museum Hours: Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Closed Monday. For additional information, call Visitor and Member Services at (612) 870-3131 or visit www.artsmia.org.

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