Gallery Review by Sahra Mohamed
After viewing Fred Herzog’s exhibition at Equinox gallery. I was instantly captivated, lost in my own imagination. The same Vancouver streets and iconic buildings I pass by regularly, was beautifully captured in color during the 1950’s. There was an abundant amount of detail and depth in Fred’s imagery; the longer I started at his street work, the more moving it became. Each person was a character I wanted to know, whether it was an elderly man dressed in a large cloak refusing to shake a hand or two kids playing in front of a local grocery store advertising Coca Cola. His ability to capture emotion while simultaneously adding layers to his composition made his work stand out. During the 1950’s and 60’s, capturing imagery in color was rare, marking Fred as one of the early pioneers to do so with street photography.
An archival pigment print photo titled Martin Luther King, had images that left a lasting impression. Photos within photos in what appears to be a shot taken through a window. The print includes a portrait shot of Martin Luther King. What makes the photo peculiar is you see a reflection of the words “God’s rescue Mission Centre”. In one photograph, there are so many moving compartments which makes Fred’s work that much more rich and enticing.
In 1960, Fred took a photo titled “Handshake” and in the image, you see an older man, frowning as a younger man tries to give him a handshake. I observed the details of the older gentleman’s style and the first thing I noticed was a red bow tie and his large hat. The photograph is up for interpretation and I desperately wanted to know why he refused to shake hands. At the same time, it was refreshing to see someone’s refusal being caught on camera. Perhaps the other man was not kind, or they made a bad business deal? The story can go in a million directions and that is what makes this image special. A human moment caught in time during the 1960’s.
Fred Herzog is great at capturing everyday people. One photo in particular was taken in 1958 on Hastings at Columbia. A sea of well-dressed people, scrolling through the colorful streets of Vancouver, left me feeling a little uneasy. At first, I was amazed at seeing individuals from that time walk so freely and then I felt sadness. Those same streets are not safe nor as colorful and lively anymore. Hastings and Columbia now is very different from what it was in 1958 but as I looked closer to Fred’s photograph, I noticed another factor. Almost every single person in the crowd was Caucasian, except for 1 person in the middle who’s out of focus; an Asian man dressed in work attire. In an article published in Global News, during the 1950’s & ‘60s, the Canadian government “unleashed city planning campaigns to wipe Chinatowns off the map”. Racism against Asian Americans in Canada have been present throughout history. Fred’s photo reminded me how integrated our society is today, comparing to the past.
Another image that I was instantly drawn to was taken in 1960 on Granville street at night. You see a man who appears to be waiting, standing at the corner of an alley, looking out into the busy and vibrant street. My curiosity and wild imagination led me to creating scenarios in my head of being on Granville street during this era. Once again, I found myself appalled at how perilous it is to walk on that same path today. It feels like the area is struggling to revive but I no longer feel safe walking there at night ever again. Through Fred’s imagery, I have a new found appreciation towards seeing the city and people being captured during that time.
The final photo that I loved were children playing outside in front of a local grocery store in 1960. The first thing I noticed was Coca Cola’s advertising and I realized in today’s society, we no longer have grocery stores in small neighborhoods. Most of the time, there’s a convenient store nearby. The photo reminds me of how much has changed, however capitalism is still the driving force in today’s world.
Going to Equinox gallery and seeing Fred’s work silenced my mind. I was lost in his photographs and after seeing his collection I ventured off and looked at all the photographs, sculptures and paintings. I have been feeling like a hamster lately, stuck in what seems to be a hard never-ending wheel. I didn’t realize how impactful it was to take a moment and view art. I explored the entire gallery with my younger brother, who is also an artist. I found myself not thinking about my recent anxiety attacks or the weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders. I also felt ashamed. I’m an artist too, I studied at Vancouver Film School, I’m a passionate writer and I love art but I lost myself a bit. How did I not realize how much art is in Vancouver alone?
Equinox gallery really changed my perspective. I absolutely adore art in all its forms, it’s much too meaningful for me to let it go and I did. I spoke to my family when I came home and my goal for the remainder of the year is to visit more galleries, watch plays and musicals, attend more art events and see orchestras. The gallery was extremely soothing upon my arrival, I loved the simplicity of the layouts. I stayed there for a few hours until they closed. For the first time, in a long time, I didn’t feel anxious.
After viewing Fred’s work, I wanted to know more about his life. I couldn’t believe he was rejected from art galleries because his photos were in color, not in black & white. My favorite fact about him was how he continued to take photos his way, not changing his style or method to suit anyone. Rejection is inevitable and when it comes to artists, sometimes you have to make a decision that is right for you. It reminded me of the times I wrote psychological thrillers, screenplays that explored sexism, racism and love, only to find out that no one is my class really took the time to read and understood my screenplays. I remember feeling discouraged and I felt like an outcast. Not a lot of black women wrote psychological thrillers either, I felt so much pride that quickly evaporated. I was reading about Fred’s work not getting proper recognition until his late seventies! I was shocked and very moved that he continued to pursue photography despite that. It’s a powerful reminder, that if the world doesn’t see your talents yet, it doesn’t take away the immense talent you have within. It made me think and re evaluate myself.
There have been many times where I would work extremely hard in the fashion & film world and not get proper recognition or credit. It made me work even harder to the detriment of my health. I made choices that didn’t reflect my own best interests. I spent time seeking validation from agencies until I realized that my work is absolutely incredible. It didn’t matter if someone didn’t like it or understand it and I didn’t have to torture myself to please anyone.
Upon further research, I appreciated Fred’s boldness and creativity to take photos in color during that era. In one of his interviews, he mentioned there was no one else he could emulate. He really did learn how to capture images on his own, which expanded his creativity. When I learned galleries wanted photographs to be in black & white because they were considered more professional, it reminded me of an incident that happened to one of my favorite artists ever, Beyoncé.
In 2008, Beyoncé released her album Sasha Fierce. Beyoncé wanted the cover and music videos to be in Black & White but her recording label strongly advised her not to do it. Based on their own statistics, the heads of the studio came to the conclusion that audiences do not watch black & white music videos and they don’t sell. Beyoncé did them anyway, and her black & white music videos ended up getting over 1 billion views. She departed from her label. Her next 5 albums were released under Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s own record label that she created.
It made me wonder how galleries at that time, rejected the beauty and artistry of Fred’s work based on conclusions that had no merit. Fred’s photos have so much depth and they should have been critically acclaimed decades ago. Sometimes, the gatekeepers of the art world should not always be listened to.
Fred Herzog’s life was inspiring and I’m grateful for having an opportunity to view his work. I don’t think I would have done this on my own, even if I wanted to. I didn’t realize how life changing it was and it reminded me of how much I love seeing the work of other artists. I learned a lot about Fred’s upbringing and the way he captures certain shots. I’m planning to go to Equinox gallery again with my best friend and I’m also going to explore more galleries throughout Vancouver and anytime I travel to a different city.
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