Exhibition of Robert Whitman "Mikhail Baryshnikov. Body Metaphysics"

On January 2,3,5,7 and 8 at 14:00 the Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography invites you to tour Robert Whitman’s exhibition “Mikhail Baryshnikov. The metaphysics of the body. "

Ticket price: full - 430 rubles, preferential - 200 rubles (purchased at the box office of the Center for Photography), World War II veterans - for free.

Tour Tickets:
January 2 http://www.lumiere.ru/events/id-506/
January 3 http://www.lumiere.ru/events/id-507/
January 5 http://www.lumiere.ru/events/id-508/
January 7 http://www.lumiere.ru/events/id-509/
January 8 http://www.lumiere.ru/events/id-510/

The Lumiere Brothers Photography Center presents an exhibition by American photographer Robert Whitman, “Mikhail Baryshnikov. The metaphysics of the body. " More than sixty shots of the Soviet-American ballet dancer and choreographer, recognized as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the twentieth century, will be presented for the first time in Moscow.

Five creative meetings of Robert Whitman and Mikhail Baryshnikov from 1995 to 2015 turned into five photographic series. Whatever the reason for the shooting, the photographer invariably catches the bewitching grace and charisma of Baryshnikov, whom the poet Joseph Brodsky admired, among many. In “Dialogues…” with Solomon Volkov, Brodsky notes: “When I see Baryshnikov on stage, this feeling is absolutely amazing. I even think that this is not even ballet at all - what he does. In my opinion, this is a pure metaphysics of the body. Something that escapes beyond the ballet. Mikhail Baryshnikov is a kind of smart body that carries the whole world. ” Brodsky and Barshnikov left the Soviet Union in the early 1970s, becoming great friends in exile.

The earliest series on display in support of the advertising campaign for Baryshnikov’s perfume - “Aromat”, 1995 - reveals the dancer’s artistic, comedic talent and reveals Whitman’s subtle photographic flair. The photographer tries on Baryshnikov a whole series of images: elegant, playful, sensual, in each of which he is unconditionally organic. To shoot the 10th anniversary of his Center in New York (Baryshnikov Art Center) Baryshnikov again invites Robert Whitman. And in this latest series of 2015, we see a mature dancer already much more static and serious, but no less expressive. The exposition will also feature contact prints of the series that will open the backstage of the filming process.

1995. Fragrance Series

1995. Fragrance Series

1995. Fragrance Series

Baryshnikov’s “smart body” looks especially focused under the guidance of the famous American choreographer-innovator Merce Cunningham (the series “Misha and Merce”, 1999). A unique series from the rehearsal of the performance “Occasion Piece” is a kind of duet, pas de deux of two great ballet masters, who Baryshnikov again entrusted to Whitman to capture. Documentary filming continues with shots of the dancer’s daily training, as well as rehearsals as part of the American Ballet Theater troupe in 2002 (the performance “Solo With Piano or Not”). The reason for this trust, according to the photographer, is as follows: “I think Mikhail likes to work with me because he loves my style. I always work alone. Just me and the camera. No assistants, people on site, artificial light. I don’t work like that, I use only natural light. ”

1999. Series Misha and Merce

2002. Rehearsal Series

Workout Series

Robert Whitman is known for his shootings for leading world publications and advertising agencies: Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Men’s health, Women’s health, Travel and Leisure, BBDO, McCANN ERICKSON, as well as genre sketches of New York, personal shootings of Mikhail Baryshnikov, singer Prince. As part of the exhibition, Artist’s talk with the photographer is planned.

Excursion to the exhibition “Mikhail Baryshnikov. Body Metaphysics

On October 16, at 15:00, the Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography invites you to a tour of the exhibition "Mikhail Baryshnikov. Body Metaphysics", which will be conducted by project curator Yana Iskakova.

The exposition presents about sixty photographs of the Soviet-American ballet dancer and choreographer, included in the five photographic series that were created between 1995 and 2015. You will learn the history of their creation, as well as the fruitful work and long-standing friendship of the photographer and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Further excursions will be held at the Center on weekends. An educational program is also planned. Follow the schedule on our website!

Ticket price: full - 430 rubles, preferential - 200 rubles (purchased at the box office of the Center for Photography), World War II veterans - for free.