JAROMÍR FUNKE. AVANT-GARDE PHOTOGRAPHER

Jaromír Funke initially studied medicine, law and philosophy after receiving his high school degree in 1915 before he turned to photography after World War I. From 1923 he created his first modern works: minimalistic compositions with plates and glass bottles, still lifes with glass objects, light bulbs and star fish. Funke repeatedly experimented with mirroring, transparencies and reflections – scrutinising the perception of the viewer. In his series “Abstract Photo” (1927–29) Funke no longer worked directly with objects but solely with their shadows. His goal is to “highlight two objects, contrast two realities, combine different elements in a single photo”, he writes in 1935. At the same time, Funke contributed to the development of photography theory: as the member of progressive photo collectives, co-publisher of a photo journal, essays, books and as lecturer at art schools, including the Academy of Art in Prague.

Jaromír Funke’s works are part of many renowned collections, including Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles), Museum of Modern Art (New York) and Centre Pompidou (Paris). With this exhibition his relevance in the field of Avant-garde photography can now be experienced by a wider audience.

“JAROMíR FUNKE. AVANT-GARDE PHOTOGRAPER” was curated by Vladimír Birgus. The exhibition is accompanied by a new publication. In addition, a limited edition portfolio of later gelatin-silver prints from original negatives is also available “Jaromír Funke: 12 Avant-Garde Photographs, 2014”.