Berlin: Day Three (28.02.13) - Helmut Newton
POSTED ON Sunday, 10 March 2013 AT 14:37 \\
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS WAS NOT PERMITTED IN THIS EXHIBITION. 
ANY IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE FROM SECONDARY SOURCES.

 (HELMUT NEWTON WEBSITE)

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Helmut Newton is a fashion photographer that I have been a fan of for some time so I was really thrilled to be able to his work in an exhibition and this was one of the most extensive collections of work I have ever come across and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The above image is what greets you on arrival to the Helmut Newton Foundation base, a grand staircase lined with red carpet, a series of Newton's fashion nudes lining the back wall. It is striking on first impression: a common theme amongst Newton's own daring fashion photographs. The exhibition was broken up into several parts to divide the vast amount of work and artifacts on display.

Helmut Newton's Private Property

"Newtonmobile"
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This is where the exhibition started and is part of the exhibitions permanent display and is located on the ground floor. Helmut Newton's Private Property provides an in depth insight into the life of Newton himself: displaying the cameras and equipment he used, letters of complaints from his clients, letters of condolense after his death, a collection of magazine and newspaper articles regarding the photographer, photographs from his childhood, glass cabinets containing some of the iconic suits and actual clothes that the photographer wore, along with  the "newtonmobile" a replica of his studio/living space(image above). I found the techniques used in this gallery space to be incredibly effective. 

Helmut Newton's photographs for magazines such as Vogue & Elle
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Photographs partnered alongside props
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There is a wall filled to the ceiling with his pictorial and magazine shoots for clients such as Vogue, Elle and Vanity Fair. Photographs were on display, partnered alongside the props used in them. The replica of Newton's living space also allows a more personal connection with the photographer, bringing to life just a glimpse of this iconic man's lifestyle. There was also a television screen in this part of the exhibition, showing a film of Newton at work carrying out a photoshoot, allowing the audience to see his process and development.


Leaving behind the ground floor and Private Property, taking yourself up the grand staircase will lead to an extensive number of rooms displaying more of Newton's work. These rooms home an ever changing collection of his work and has displayed many different series. You can view the list of previous exhibitions as well as the current displays here. The wall colours vary from room to room as if to evoke the mood, temperature and feel of the work being displayed. All of his work is presented in black frames, protected by glass, maintaining the stylish monochrome chic to his images. The exhibition didn's just display black and white works, but also some of Newton's colour prints.

various gallery spaces at the Helmut Newton Foundation

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