World of Chris von Wangenheim
November 26 – December 15, 2019
“I realized that getting my picture was more important to me than the discomfort of someone, not understanding or someone’s opposition to my goals.”
DOCUMENTaRY
The Selects Gallery is pleased to present “World of Chris von Wangenheim”, an immersive exhibition featuring eleven of the artist’s most iconic images.
In the 1970s, the photographer Chris Von Wangenheim radically challenged the public taste with high fashion photographs capturing the zeitgeist and cultural changes of the era. His images have remained largely unseen since his tragic death in 1981 and are shown for the first time 40 years later. Curated to feature some of his most recurring themes such as violence, sex, glamour, and punk, the exhibition includes images shot between 1973 and 1979 which were some of the most talked-about avant-garde images of the time.
The exhibition also includes 4 short videos documenting how Chris von Wangenheim’s daring work is a sharp-lit time-capsule of that vibrant and tumultuous era, his muses, his personal life and his influence.
“Chris’ images have remained unseen to the general public since his death and at the exception of the excellent book published 3 years by the Padilha brothers which triggered some online coverage, his work is virtually nonexistent on the web. It was very important to us create an informative digital presence for Chris online through this exhibition” said Marie Audier D’Alessandris, founder of The Selects Gallery.
Text: Marie Audier D'Alessandris, Antonina Zharko. Video editing: Hsiang Hsi Lu.