Diane Arbus and Sammlung Scarf-Gerstberg

Saturday, July 7.

After getting up to dry my laundry and do homework, Mary and I headed down the U2 to the Diane Arbus exhibition.  I was already excited, because I really enjoy her photography, but the title post at the beginning of the exhibit really struck me as an interesting way to go about having a gallery space like this.  Instead of arranging the images by theme or chronology, the point is for the works themselves to guide the viewer's gaze.  Each image should be viewed through the lens of the individual's experience, not guided by a theme or time period.  I was able to realize the patterns on my own, without letting words or explanations guide me.  While I don't think this would work with most museums, Arbus' work really lends itself to this type of experience.  The point of her images is for these people to speak for themselves.

"I do feel I have some slight corner on something about the quality of things.  I mean it's very subtle and a little embarrassing to me, but I really believe there are things which nobody would see unless I photographed them."

- Diane Arbus

Boxer With Punching Bag, 1964

The Backwards Man, 1961

Five Members of the Monster Fanclub, 1961

Next, we went all the way Charlottenberg to see the Sammlung Scharf-Gerstberg museum of Surrealist Art.  The museum was smaller than expected, but so good!  I love the Surrealist work, especially Rene Magritte.

There were only a few Magritte's and one Giacometti which I was really disappointed in.  This painting by Magritte, Gaspard the Nightwatcher, was my favorite.  I also enjoyed many of the other works.  We weren't allowed to take pictures in either museum/exhibit which is why these are taken from the internet.

It was a good day, even though Mary and I got poured down upon on our way back to the U-Bahn.  We got Falafels for a very late lunch.