Karin Székessy exhibit at Chaussee 36 in Berlin

Eine sitzt eine springt I, 1969 © Karin Székessy. Courtesy the artist & Galerie 36, Berlin

Chaussee 36 in Berlin is currently holding a solo exhibition by Karin Székessy titled “Skulptural | Surreal.” The exhibit runs between April 12th and May 25th, 2019.

Karin Székessy—one of the most important female photographers in Europe—was born in Essen in 1938. Between 1957 and 1959, she studied photography in Munich and went on to work as a photojournalist for the magazine Kristall. She also taught fashion photography at the school of applied arts in Hamburg. Her distinctive photographic style is carefully staged and imbued with a sense of mystery and surrealism.

Personal comments: I find Karin Székessy’s works to be very striking and thought-provoking. Beyond the female gaze versus male gaze aspect, what strikes me as different about Székessy’s nudes is that they feel quite eerie to me. The models’ faces are mostly obscured through various means (masks, feathers, poses), and their nakedness adds to the unsettling impression of a scenario that differs from normal reality. The imagery the works present feels surreal and sometimes slightly ominous. In that regard, they are the polar opposite of traditional nude photography. It’s a rare treat to visit photographic worlds that bring something completely different to the table, which Székessy more than succeeds at.

Über den Stuhl gelegt I, 1984 © Karin Székessy. Courtesy the artist & Galerie 36, Berlin

Mit Maske und Kaktus, 1979 © Karin Székessy. Courtesy the artist & Galerie 36, Berlin

Location: Chaussee 36 / Galerie 36, Chausseestraße 36, 10115 Berlin
Duration: April 12th – May 25th, 2019