For American photographer Gordon Parks (1912-2006), the camera was聽his 鈥渨eapon of choice鈥. In the right hands, the camera can be adaptable tool used against repression, racism, violence, and inequality. Known聽for his black and white photographs, Parks used the medium聽to expose the deep divisions in American society. An important champion of equal rights for African Americans, the artist’s聽work addressed themes of聽poverty, marginalisation and injustice. Aside from his iconic portraits of legends like Martin Luther King, he achieved fame through his photographic essays for Life Magazine, as well as聽his films The Learning Tree聽(1969) and 厂丑补蹿迟听(1971).
This summer, collates 120 works from the collection of The Gordon Parks Foundation, including vintage prints, contact sheets and magazines, into a comprehensive exhibition titled Gordon Parks – I Am You. Selected Works 1942-1978. Opening on 16 June, the presentation shows black and white prints alongside Parks’ lesser known work in colour. Accompanying a selection of portraits, documentary images and fashion photographs, are excerpts from his films聽The Learning Tree and 厂丑补蹿迟,听both of which signalled the start of the popular聽Blaxploitation genre. Combined together, these pieces reflect deeply on the聽social and political context in which聽the artist worked, while also highlighting the aptitude and talent of the self-taught photographer.
First brought to fame with a photo report on a聽gang leader named 麓Red麓 in Harlem, New York, he was the first African American photographer to join the staff of Life Magazine. Parks also photographed legendary boxer Muhammed Ali and Civil Rights Movement leader Malcom X. Notably, this storyteller聽carved out a place for underexposed topics during a turbulent time in the US, and his work continues to聽impact new generations聽for his open attitude to the various groups making up a fiercely divided America – something that shines through in the narrative imagery of his photographs and filmic pieces.聽Gordon Parks – I Am You聽is part of聽a European tour initiated by C/O Berlin.
Gordon Parks – I Am You. Selected works 1942 – 1978, 16 June – 6 September, FOAM Amsterdam.
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Credits
1. Gordon Parks,听The Invisible Man, Harlem, New York, 1952. Courtesy of The Gordon Parks Foundation.
