11. April 2012

Rough Paths to the Stars

When you walk through a photo exhibition you will find works by artists who use the most variable of techniques and prefer very different motifs. Which is lucky, because art would be plain boring without diversity.

Stephen Hawking, a great physicist and probably one of today‘s greatest experts on outer space, says perfection does not exist. If it existed, the universe would have developed in an entirely symmetrical manner after the big bang. The planets and stars would be arranged in complete symmetry, they would influence each other with equal forces, and accordingly the universe would be bare of any reciprocal dynamics, without any chance for life to emerge. The same is true for photography. Can you imagine that all photographic motives are shot completely symmetrically, in line with all the conventional rules?

The photos would probably be completely lifeless. Therefore, a really good shot must fufill more than just the laws of composition; it should leave a more permanent impression in the beholder‘s eyes than immediate, short-lived enthusiasm. We may ignore the laws of photography completely - but if we do that just to be different, it is not very probable that we will reach for the stars. Like most extraordinary things, a good shot is created within. In the photographer‘s thoughts, in his or her emotions. Like life, a photograph needs wisdom, experience... and great love. There is no consensus as to what a really good photo should look like, but maybe you want to think about the quote of the Serbian photographer enthusing this year‘s visitors of Stolp photo gallery. When seeing a good shot by another photographer, Imre Szabo likes to say: „I wish it was one of mine...“

Further information will be available at the same time in the Galerie auf der Pawlatsche in the yard of Spitalgasse 2-4 (Altes AKH). Its organisers will also be responsible for the exhibition in the Urania.