BRUCE DAVIDSON
6/15 - 8/13, 2017
WestLicht, the center of photography in Vienna
WestLicht presents the first retrospective exhibition of Bruce Davidson (*1933, Chicago) in Austria. As a leading exponent of humanist photography he is one of the most prominent photographers of Magnum Photos agency, with a membership of close to sixty years. The now legendary cooperative was founded in 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David “Chim” Seymour and celebrates its seventieth birthday this year.
Davidson counts among the most influential photographers of the agency. His reportages on subcultures and the margins of society have shaped the genre like few others. The exhibition offers a full survey of his oeuvre, spanning more than fifty years, up to one of his latest projects, Nature of
Los Angeles (2008-2013). The focus is on his most renowned series like Brooklyn Gang (1959), Time of Change: Civil Rights Movement (1961-1965) and East 100th Street (1966-1968).
Davidson passionately engages with the topics and the protagonists of his stories, often following them over extensive periods of time. Characterized by the personal view of the photographer, his pictures always express a distinct ethical stance, lifting his work far beyond pure documentary.
The exhibition was produced by Fundación MAPFRE in collaboration with WestLicht. Schauplatz für Fotografie und Magnum Photos with support from TERRA Foundation for American Art.