This is heavy-hitter territory when it comes to photographers and their subject matter. You have Richard Avedon shooting Groucho Marx and Ezra Pound, Yousuf Karsh getting the likes of Churchill, Einstein, Costeau, Ali, Hemingway and Georgia O’Keeffe to stare down the lens.
Bernice Abbott framed the most instantly recognisable image of James Joyce back in 1925. However, what turns out to be most compelling is actual seeing the faces of people we may know of but struggle to identify – Chagall (Kertesz), Miro (Brassai) and Mondrian (Newman) are such cases. And arguably one of the most affecting images is one where the face is turned the opposite way in the case of Karsh’s shot of cellist Pablo Cassals. Also, make sure to pop into the basement to catch Kevin Atherton’s witty video installation – In Two Minds.
IMMA until October 8
