Wolf Suschitzky:Wolf Suschitzky Vita→ Vita
I am a lucky man
London since 1934

October 11 to November 28, 2014
The exhibition will be extended until December 12, 2014

Now in Berlin Schöneberg: Galerie Hilaneh von Kories will present the exhibition »I Am a Lucky Man.«, a selection of the most significant images by Wolfgang Suschitzky. After a recent move from Hamburg to Berlin , Galerie Hilaneh von Kories opens at their new location in Schöneberg with the work of the London-based photographer and cinematographer. Suschitzky is not only one of Britain’s most important documentary filmmakers, but also excels at black-and-white photography. The artist was born in Vienna in 1912 into a prominent Jewish family. His father Wilhelm and his uncle Philipp were the founders of Vienna’s first of socialist bookshop. From early on, the engagement for social causes came with the environment. In Austria, Suschitzky had studied photography at Höhere Graphische Bundes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt, inspired by his older sister Edith Tudor-Hart, who had studied photography at Bauhaus and later married a British physician.

Wolf Suschitzky Foyles, Charing Cross Road, 1936 Silbergelatine auf Baryt, 37,9 × 27,7 cm, signiert im Passepartout 50 × 40 cm

When Austrofascism took over in 1934, Suschitzky fled to the Netherlands and then moved on to London. In the beginning he struggled to make ends meet, while occasionally assisting his sister Edith. But later he made a name for himself as a photo reporter for Illustrated and Picture Post. When he was given the opportunity to become a cameraman for documentaries, he began a successful career as a cinematographer. He started out as an assistant and later worked as Director of Photography on films for well-known documentary filmmaker Paul Rotha. Suschitzky contributed to more than 200 films, among which »The Bespoke Overcoat«, a short, received an Oscar in 1956. His most famous works are »Get Carter« (1971), a movie with Michael Caine, and the film version of the James Joyce book »Ulysses« (1967), which won the British Academy for Film and Television Arts Award.

On location and in his spare time, Suschitzky kept his Hasselblad by his side and took thousands of still photos. In some of his portraits, mostly shot in a black and white, he captured famous people like Indian Prime Minister Nehru and scientist Robert Fleming. He also took intriguing street scenes. Many of them reflect the gritty reality in the everyday life of the underprivileged. His series on Charing Cross Road, taken in the 30s, is part of this exhibit. Suschitzky was one of the first photographers who portrayed animals. His photograph of Guy the Gorilla, taken in 1958, became famous.

Suschitzky‘s images reflect the distinct eyes of a documentarian combined with a poetic sensibility and the enthusiasm of a progressive mind. He saw his work as a valuable political tool, and as an instrument for learning. He did not consider any rules or any conventional wisdom when framing his objects. »Composition is not a matter of rules«, he said. »It‘s a matter of taste.« The photographic oeuvre of the 102-year-old artist was discovered by Hilaneh von Kories several years ago, premiered in her gallery in Hamburg in 2009, and will be shown in Berlin for the first time. The exhibit titled »I Am a Lucky Man« presents Hilaneh’s selection of 40 silver gelatine prints on Baryta paper, including some vintage prints. The book »Wolf Suschitzky Photos«, SYNEMA-Publikationen Wien, will also be available.

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