Helmut Newton Exhibition and the Helmut Newton Foundation
Berlin’s own, Helmut Newton is regarded as one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. During his 50 year long career, Helmut Newton was both celebrated and criticized for his work with the female form in fashion photography. Prints of his prolific work can permanently be be found at the Helmut Newton Foundation located in Charlottenburg.
In 2003, shortly before he died, Helmut Newton donated an extensive photo collection to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. This private-public partnership established the Helmut Newton Foundation. The foundation conserves and presents the work of Helmut Newton in a series of rotating exhibitions. Since the foundation opened it’s doors in June 2004, it has welcomed over 500,000 visitors from around the world. A restored neoclassical building, which once served as a socializing quarters for Prussian Army officers, is the perfect setting for the photography that revolutionized the world of fashion photography.
I recently visited the Helmut Newton Exhibition: White Women/Sleepless Nights/Big Nudes. The exhibition is dedicated to the provocative and ground breaking work found in the artist’s first three books. Images from these legendary collections were made into prints exclusively for this exhibition and displayed together for the first time. Admirers of Helmut Newton can spend hours perusing the powerful, sensual and sometimes awkward images of Newton’s subjects. The exhibit was not only visually appealing but thought provoking. It was hard for me to distinguish if the photos were art, fashion, or a commentary on society’s attitude toward women, perhaps they are a combination of all three.
In addition to regularly rotating installations the foundation also houses a permanent exhibition of Helmut Newton’s personal items called “Helmut Newton’s Private Property”. The exhibition gives visitor’s a glimpse into the life of Helmut Newton, showcasing his personal cameras, equipment, collection of posters and original photos from his early life in Berlin. The Helmut Newton Foundation is just a short walk from the Hotel Concorde Berlin, next to the Zoologischer Garten train station. Admirers of photography and Helmut Newton should add this to their Berlin to-do-list.
Museum for Photography
Helmut Newton Foundation
Jebensstrasse 2
D – 10623 Berlin
Germany
Opening Hours
Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
View Larger Map
Comments are closed.