The exhibition presents more than 50 portraits from the 1980s Björk and Leonard Cohen to new endearing portraits – mostly of women -­‐ shot around in different capitals, which are combined a genuine curiosity to look deeper into the portrayed people.

The exhibition could be divided into two main parts. The first part is devoted to the portraits of musicians, artists, and many photographs Lars Schwander has met over the years: William Eggleston, Robert Frank, Duane Michals, and Cindy Sherman.

Martin Kippenberger, Günther Förg, Jim Dine and Yoko Ono. But also the Hungarian photographers like Zsuzsanna Kemenesi and Gabor Kerekes in his Budapest home, 2006. This part of the exhibition has almost conceptual, documentary purity with strong understanding of the person character in the work inside of black and white photo.

The second part is more about fantasy and seduction. And it is the first time Lars Schwander semi-­‐erotic photography would be presented so full.

Lars Schwander never uses professional models, but uses photographers, artists, architects, students, art dealers, in general: Fascinating women. Showing not only the beauty of the body but also the inner side of the person with tension and problems, Lars Schwander speaks about the complexity of human body which is also an inspiration.

In the second part collaboration with Axel Geis, German painter, could be seen. The paintings inspired by photograph and repeated the image but in more open psychological manner.

Lars Schwander is a leading figure in European photography. Through curating, writing and organizing shows, he has been involved with photographic organisations and museums, Festival d’Arles, Hôtel de Sully, Hasselblad Award, Prix BMW, Louisiana MoMA, etc.

Though 15 years he was running a non-­‐commercial gallery, which had an international response. In parallel with this work, Schwander has constantly circled around the portrait, tried to reach deeper into an understanding and to the function of portrait photography is the twist of the exhibition raising the problem about photo-­‐painting dialogue.

Lars Schwander (b.1957) is as photographer represented in public and private collections as the Bibliothèque Nationale (Paris), Rosphoto (St. Petersburg), Louis Vuitton (Paris), the Royal Library (Copenhagen), Musée de la Photographie (Charleroi), The Museum of Photographic Arts (Odense), Obrist Collection. Lars Schwander has curated and exhibited numerous places in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, USA, Russia, Spain…

On display until 29 February

Venue: UVG Budapest
Address: 1055 Budapest, 5 Falk Miksa