ERICH SALOMON, BARBARA KLEMM. “LEAP IN TIME”

The photography exhibition of two world-renowned photographers, Erich Salomon and Barbara Klemm, “Leap in Time”, is opening at the KCCC Exhibition Hall (Didžioji Vandens str. 2, Klaipėda) on Friday, 26 January 2018, at 17:00. Involving: the curator-photographer Andreas Rost, who was awarded the Aenne Biermann Prize for Contemporary German Photography in 2017.

Erich Salomon is one of the most prominent photographers of the 20th century who has had a great influence on contemporary press photography. Barbara Klemm’s photographs as of the late last century etched in the collective visual memory of the Germans.

There is an unusual symbiosis between the photojournalism of Erich Salomon, died in 1944, and Barbara Klemm, born in 1936. While transmitting a certain message, together they have shed light on the political, social and psychological background to historical events. Both authors would consider themselves to be photojournalists rather than artists. Their works, however, are today presented as works of artistic photography and are considered of the highest value to German photojournalism.

Erich Salomon is one of the pioneers of German photojournalism. His photographs depict the daily business of the political and social elite of his time. His fame gave him access to the highest echelons of power. Erich Salomon was himself a well-educated gentleman with multilingual ability, an incredibly good flair in every situation and a talent to use his camera with consummate skill (and quite often – secretly), which seems to have contributed to his success. Beginning in 1928, Erich Salomon picked up Ermanox camera, which allowed him to take pictures indoors and remain relatively inconspicuous. Thus, he was able to capture his famous contemporaries at the moments they did not feel to be observed, beyond the official protocol.

Photography of Barbara Klemm tells stories. Even more – they tell the stories of recent times. No other German photographer has ever depicted so many events and personalities of the latest history of Germany and other countries, as Barbara Klemm has. Her photos portray politicians and protesters, meetings at the German Federal Office and moments of student movements as of the late 1970s of the 20th century. You may envisage both social and political moods, personal experiences. You may feel confusion, helplessness and sadness, faith and resistance, as well as gaps and walls between the rulers and subordinates, between the East and the West, poor and rich, locals and aliens, between young and old.

The photography exhibition “Leap in Time” has been organised by the Institute for Cultural Relations (IFA), in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and the Klaipėda branch of the Lithuanian Union of Art Photographers.

The exhibition will run until 18 February 2018.

Ticket – 1,70 / 0,85 €.

Working hours of KCCC Exhibition Hall (Didžioji Vandens str. 2, Klaipėda): 11:00–19:00, Wednesday – Sunday (closed on public holidays).