Man Ray »
Revolving Doors
Exhibition: 12 Sep – 10 Nov 2024
Wed 18 Sep 18:00
Les Douches La Galerie
5, rue Legouve
75010 Paris
+33 1-78 94 03 00
contact@lesdoucheslagalerie.com
www.lesdoucheslagalerie.com
Wed-Sat 14-19
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