THOMAZ FARKAS PHOTOS

Thomaz Farkas (1924) is one of the great exponents of modern photography in Brazil. Born in Budapest, lies from his childhood in Sao Paulo, in which 1948 held his first solo show, also considered the first photography exhibition in museums in the country. In 1949 showcased at the MOMA in New York, who acquired their photographs to the permanent collection of the institution. He was a professor at the School of Communications and Arts at USP by 20 years and from 1996 is president emeritus of the Council of Brazilian Cinema.

In the years 40, Farkas's work focuses primarily on the dizzying transformation of the urban landscape of São Paulo. In 1942, to 18 years, joins the Foto Cine Clube Bandeirante, focus for discussion and conceptualization of photographic activity. Attuned to the avant-garde European and American, its members sought a specific aesthetic, with new frameworks and unusual points of view. Chasing the ideals of movements such as Straight Photography, Farkas photos of this period result in geometric abstractions that foreshadow constructivism which ran in the next decade.

In the years 50 initiates the study of movements and design bodies and backlit with a famous sequence of photos of ballet. Already in the 60 and 70, Farkas interest back into the country, especially the Northeast, and becomes director and producer of documentary filmmaking. The Caravana Farkas opens space for a generation of filmmakers who then begin to reveal a stranger Brazil the Rio - São Paulo. In 1979 Meeting at Gallery Fotóptica, important reference for photographers of all time.

The photograph in this exhibition gathered up the collection of Thomaz Farkas, composed of more than 34.000 images and which today is deposited in Instituto Moreira Salles through agreement for custody and preservation of the work of photographer established in 2007.

Images are emblematic of this period of intense production and photographic creation of Thomaz Farkas decades of 40 and 50, basilar this period the structuring of modern aesthetics in Brazilian photography and which Farkas is one of its main representatives.

Sergio Burgi
Coordinator
Area photography
Instituto Moreira Salles