noTICI

This exibition by Beat Presser will close at the 07.09.2009

24. July 2009 , 18:00h, Locarno, casorella

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Beat Presser was born 14 July 1952 in Basel, and spent his childhood there. Around 1965, while Werner Düggelin was influentially directing the Basler Theater, he dreamed of dedicating himself to this medium. When, for the first time, in the laboratory of a classmate, he saw an image appear on paper submerged in developing liquid, he immediately took the decision to become a photographer. Forgoing conventional training, he enlists some ten expert photographers to be his teachers, and from whom, maybe just for a single night, a couple of days or, occasionally, for weeks, months, or even an entire year, he is able to learn the secrets of the trade. He learns quickly, keeps his eyes open, his view wide and, mainly, travels a lot. After a long stay in Paris he first moves to the States, South-East Asia is followed by Peru, Madagascar, Cameroon, and finally to Easter Island. Always carrying his camera, he becomes a master of ‘learning by doing’ and thereby establishes his career. In the meantime (1976 – 1978), he publishes the photography magazines Palm Beach News and The Village Cry and makes sure he crosses the path of Director Werner Herzog. After having begun with a deep silence, the meeting would soon lead to successful collaboration. He works as both photographer on set and cameraman for Fitzcarraldo, completes the photography for Cobra Verde, as he has done once again for one of Herzog’s latest works, Invincible. Thus inspired, he works behind the camera, editing and directing a string of cinematic productions. In may 1977, a very special meeting takes place near Paris: in adventurous circumstances, he finally finds himself face to face for the first time with actor Klaus Kinski. In the meantime, he has built the largest, and perhpas the liveliest photographic archive of Kinski. On him as a subject, from 1995, commissioned by the Goethe Institute, he holds photography seminars in Africa, South America and India. His photographies are displayed at international exhibitions, cultural institutions and galleries.

LOCARNO, Switzerland

Casorella, Locarno  25. 07. 2009 – 31. 08. 2009

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