MAN RAY
"Revolving Doors"

Exhibition: 12 September – 10 November 2024
Opening: Wednesday, 18 September, 6pm

"Revolving Doors" is a series of works created by Man Ray early in his career in the United States around 1916-1917, before he moved to Paris in 1921 and became a central figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements.

This series accompanied Man Ray throughout his long career: initially created as a series of colored paper collages around 1916, it was exhibited in New York at the Daniel Gallery in 1919 and later featured in the 1935 edition of the Surrealist magazine Minotaure. The series was reproduced using stencils and published as lithographs in 1926 by Surrealist editions, and again in 1972 by publisher Luciano Anselmino, which served as inspiration for tapestries created in 1973 by Frédérique Bachellerie and Peter Schönwald.

"Revolving Doors" perfectly illustrates Man Ray’s avant-garde and experimental spirit, known for his significant contributions to the Dada and Surrealist movements. Created within the context of the Dada movement, which rejected the artistic and social conventions of the time, Revolving Doors embodies this spirit of rebellion in search of modernism, challenging traditional notions of art and beauty.

The series is characterized by abstract geometric shapes and dynamic compositions. Each piece presents a complex interaction between elements such as circles, straight lines, and angles, evoking both a sense of stability and movement and transformation. These works are not merely aesthetic compositions but also embody deeper ideas about perception and temporality.

By using abstract geometric forms, Man Ray departs from traditional figurative representation. This abstraction invites viewers to freely interpret the works, allowing for a multitude of symbolic meanings.

"Revolving Doors" was influential in the development of abstract art and foreshadowed some of Man Ray’s later explorations in photography and cinema. It showcases the artist’s ability to capture movement and change through abstract and dynamic forms, marking an important milestone in the evolution of modern art in the early 20th century.

Man Ray continues to be celebrated for his boldness and originality, and "Revolving Doors" remains a key work for understanding his artistic approach. This series perfectly illustrates how Man Ray transcended the boundaries of mediums and artistic movements to create works that continue to resonate and inspire today.

Curator: Jonas Tebib