Wolford and Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam are to collaborate closely on the exhibition Helmut Newton – A Retrospective, which will be held from 17 June to 4 September 2016 in the museum in Amsterdam. Luxury fashion brand Wolford, founded in Austria, will be main sponsor of this major summer exhibition, which will entail Foams entire building.
From 17 June 2016, Foam will present a major exhibition of the work of Helmut Newton (Berlin, 1920 - Hollywood, 2004), a legendary, supremely influential photographer. Taking over the entire building on Amsterdam’s Keizersgracht, the retrospective features in excess of 200 photographs ranging from early prints that rarely go on display to monumental photos. Newton is responsible for a rich, authentic and complex oeuvre that can be considered one of the most iconic of the last quarter of the 20th century. The majority of the works featured in the exhibition are vintage prints from the collection of the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin.
Newton worked as a photographer from the 1950s onwards, but he made his breakthrough in the early 1970s, primarily with the striking photos he made on commission. The 1970s and early 1980s were characterized by major social change; traditional power relations shifted and women’s emancipation took off. In the 1990s Newton made an iconic series of photos in Monte Carlo, commissioned by Wolford, in which he created a powerful image of the modern woman: independent, confident, in control, self-assured and timeless.
Ashish Sensarma (CEO of Wolford), “With these photographs, Helmut Newton has created works that perfectly represent Wolford’s DNA. We are very pleased about our partnership with Foam, as it gives us the ideal platform to present our artistic heritage.”
“A Helmut Newton retrospective has been on our wish list for years.” says Marloes Krijnen, director of Foam. “In Wolford we have found a highly suitable partner in realising this fantastic exhibition, that shares our passion for Newton’s work, having worked with him extensively themselves. We are very pleased with the trust Wolford has put in Foam and we look forward to an exceptional collaboration.”
Supporting the major retrospective marks the beginning of Wolford’s commitment to a long-term program for female artists. The first highlight will be presented during the exhibition in Foam. Artist Sayuri Chetti (South Africa, 1988) is selected to create a work of art made from Wolford yarns and materials especially for the exhibition. Chetti graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy of Fine Art in Amsterdam. Her work has been featured in different exhibitions, most recently in the renowned Kirseberg Temporära Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden. Promoting female artists is important to Wolford and will be established within future global projects.
