LENS OF IDA KAR
Cornish Guardian, UK
June 5, 2013
THE ROYAL Cornwall Museum in Truro is hosting an exhibition of striking
photographs from the National Portrait Gallery, London. Ida Kar,
Bohemian Photographer – Portraits of Artists from Paris, London and
St Ives covers her whole career but especially focuses on her later
portraits of the leading members of the St Ives School of Artists.
“Despite receiving critical acclaim from her contemporaries, Ida
Kar, pictured, remains surprisingly little known today, yet she was
instrumental in encouraging the acceptance of photography as fine art,”
said Hilary Bracegirdle, director of the Royal Cornwall Museum.
“Her portraits offer a fascinating insight into postwar cultural life
and her subjects include some of the most celebrated figures from
the literary and art worlds of 1950s’ and 1960s’ Europe and Russia.”
The show includes photographic portraits of Patrick Heron, Peter
Lanyon, Barbara Hepworth, above, John Milne and Denis Mitchell. The
museum has used the opportunity to display works of art and sculpture
from the Schools Art Collection, which it manages on behalf of Cornwall
Council. These include pieces such as Barbara Hepworth’s Involute II
which show how cleverly Kar has captured the spatial awareness and
spirit of the artist.
Born in Russia to Armenian parents in 1908, Ida Kar initially studied
in Paris. She had a studio in Cairo, Egypt in the late 1930s before
moving to London in 1945. Here, she was introduced to the British art
world through the family of famous sculptor, Jacob Epstein and her
second husband, Victor Musgrave, a poet, art dealer and curator. Her
solo show at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1960 brought her much
critical if not financial success. She also worked for the Tatler
and travelled widely to places such as Germany, Armenia and Cuba. She
died in London in 1974.
Sandy Nairne, director of the National Portrait Gallery, London,
said: “Ida Kar was a great portrait photographer and a fascinating,
cosmopolitan figure who documented the post-war cultural scene.
Following on from our own exhibition last year, I am delighted that
we have been able to work with Truro and Plymouth to continue to
bring her work to a wider audience.”
Ida Kar, Bohemian Photographer – Portraits of Artists from Paris,
London and St Ives is a collaboration between the National Portrait
Plymouth City Council’s Arts Gallery, London and Plymouth City
Council’s Arts and Heritage Service and is on display at the Royal
Cornwall Museum until Friday, November 22.
Opening hours are 10am to 4.45pm, Monday to Saturday (last admission
4pm). The museum is closed on Sundays and bank holidays. Entry is
free for children aged 18 and under and for members of the RIC. Adults
pay £5 for an annual pass.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2013/06/07/art-lens-of-ida-kar/
