“Diane Arbus: Constellation”was on view at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City, marking the largest and most complete presentation of the photographer’s work ever shown in the city. With over 450 photographs, including many never-before-seen prints, arranged in a fully immersive, very unconventional installation that I thoroughly and completely enjoyed.
It was like walking through a maze of delights and a really smart way to present this work. The exhibition, curated by Matthieu Humery and presented in collaboration with LUMA Foundation, filled half of the Armory’s 55,000-square-foot hall with creating a dynamic and overwhelming experience. Designed to evoke a “constellation” or an alternate subway map, encouraged the viewer to simply “wander and discover connections through chance and exploration, rather than following a linear narrative.”
This “art escape” gave me a chance to use my POV camera for a richer visual experience of the city and movement between my choices of the day. Starting with the bus ride and movement thru Port Authority, subway ride uptown to Diane Arbus “Constellation” exhibition at the Park Avenue Armory and a casual walk up 5th Ave to the MET.
The Lorna Simpson exhibition, as well as the new wing of African and Indonesian art, was the plan for later afternoon.
Interestingly, Arbus’ quote on the t-shirt at the gift shop was the perfect sentiment for the POV camera walk thru the city.
Click HERE for the
video clip of the day
All photographs are prints made by Neil Selkirk, a former student of Arbus and the only person authorized to produce prints from her original negatives. “I wanted to make sure that it was as mixed up as possible,” the show’s curator, Matthieu Humery,” told Veronica Esposito, author, Guardian.com, “I didn’t want to make any specific connections between images. I tried to keep out any kind of narratives so that visitors create their own narratives. There is this magic madness.”
Loved the exhibition and presentation. An excellent way to experience Arbus; a one-of-a-kind photographer that opened countless eyes then, and now. The illusion of expanding the room with a mirror at the end of the room gave more depth. It also allowed one to get lost in the maze of images and occasionally led people to walk into the mylar mirror wall.
I skipped the 90 minute video; after seeing over 400+ images, I wanted to get outside and on to the Metropolitan.
