Fotomuseum Winterthur | Saturday, 03.09. – Sunday, 20.11.2005

Robert Frank – Storylines

Robert Frank (born in Zurich in 1924) is one of the most important and influential photographers of our time. His inimitable style had a lasting influence on the language of post-war photography, and his contribution to the understanding, the creative and narrative aspects of photography is virtually incalculable. Storylines is dedicated to the essence of Robert Frank’s oeuvre, which comprises around 60 years of his work. 

The early works of the 1950s show his interest in a mixture between realistic portrayal, the narrative potential of photographic sequences and the visual poetry of everyday life, leading him directly towards film. In the 1970s Frank worked in both mediums, his photographic work showing an emphasis on complex constructions with series and sequences of pictures, Polaroids and hand-written texts, stills from films and videos, rather than on the single picture. The narrative and cinematographic quality of Frank’s photographs is underlined in the exhibition by the confrontation between his semi-autobiographical films Conversations in Vermont (1969), and Home Improvements (1985). Robert Frank – Storylines shows over 250 photographs, as well as films, videos and art books selected in collaboration with the artist.

The exhibition was curated by Philip Brookman and Vicente Todolí. Realisation in Winterthur: Martin Gasser, Peter Pfrunder, Thomas Seelig, and Urs Stahel. A cooperation with the Tate Modern, London, and the Fotostiftung Schweiz.  

Main sponsor: Swiss Re