15/4/90

IN OUR TIME  Linda and I spent a couple of hours seeing the exhibition of photos taken by members of Magnum Photos. The exhibition covered 50 years of work by the company founded by Henri Cartier-Bresson in the 1930s, whose photographers have captured on film, with a rare depth and feeling for the people involved, nearly all of the world-shaping events of that period. Magnum is a very select organisation and photographers must be highly recognised and respected before being asked to join. New Zealander Brian Brake was a member during the 60s and 70s and until his death in 1988. The exhibition took the form of a large-format slideshow in the lobby then photographs shown in the slide show were exhibited in the Hayward Gallery itself along with the history of the photographers. The photograph that stood out for me among the graphic, humourous and sometimes very moving exhibits, was a colour photograph of a Thai girl’s face in the rain –  the photographer: Brian Brake [I learned later that the photograph was staged and that the “rain” was, in fact, water poured from a watering can!]

We spent the rest of the day writing letters and repacking a African souvenirs into a tea chest [to be shipped home]. After tea we settled down to watch a TV adaptation of Thomas Harvey’s novel of life in rural Wessex, Far from the Madding Crowd.  “Ooo arrr!!