LEE FRIEDLANDER: AMERICA BY CAR AND THE NEW CARS 1964 EVENT PHOTOS
Timothy Taylor Gallery presented a two-part exhibit, Lee Friedlander: America by Car and The New Cars 1964, in London on September 7th 2011. Both series by the critically acclaimed American photographer involve automobiles. One is a collection of photographs from his journeys while on road trips across the United States. The second collection of photographs was based on commission by Harper’s Baazar Magazine.
America by Car depicts icons of American culture such as roadside signs and landscapes, taken over the span of 10-years. The photo series is presented in square –crop format, reflecting the exhibition title: cars and the open road shot from the interiors of rental cars, and for the most part, from the driver’s seat.
The second part of the exhibit displays a collection of photographs commissioned by Harper’s Bazaar and features 1964 models of Chryslers, Buicks, Pontiacs and Cadillacs for the publication. For the task, Friedlander rejected the glamour and visual seduction that the magazine exudes and arranged the model cars in locations such as dingy parking lots, budget furniture stores and used –car lots.
Showcasing his trademark techniques such as distorted reflection, low lighting and obscured objects or perspectives, Friedlander reduced these Continentals and Eldorados to ghostly presences, glimpsed as they so often are in these photographs through, or in the reflection of, a shop window.
Unsuitable for Harper’s taste, Friedlander’s photos were pulled from the magazine’s November issue before it went to print. Since the commission, this is the first time photo series, The New Cars 1964 has been shown outside of the United States. It is also Friedlander’s first solo exhibition in London since his 1976 show at the Photographer’s Gallery.
Born in Aberdeen, Washington in 1934, Lee Friedlander was introduced to photography at the age of 14. Now 77, Friedlander describes his photographs of everyday life as ‘American social landscapes’ that he has captured throughout his 50-year career.
Article by Daria McWilliams for XXXX Magazine
Event photos and coverage by XXXX Magazine
Photography by Olivia Hart
