Vivian Maier exhibition offers look at 20th century urban Americana

Описание: An exhibition showcasing 113 works by internationally acclaimed photographer Vivian Maier is now on in Taiwan. Maier was a complete unknown in the world of photography until her works went viral online after her death in 2009. Her vivid and playful street photography depicts urban life in the U.S. from the ''50s to the ''80s. Her works, which have already been exhibited in 24 countries, pull in visitors to take a nostalgic journey to the past. The exhibition, titled "Vivian Maier, Street Photographer" is open at Taipei''s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park until Sept. 6.

In her hands, she holds a Rolleiflex camera that captures one of her iconic self-portraits. The American photographer was an unknown figure until relatively recently, having spent many years working as a nanny for rich suburban families. Throughout her life, Maier snapped vivid and detailed shots of urban everyday life in American cities, including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles and also around the world. She was a prolific photographer, producing over 150,000 photos. But her beautiful compositions became famous only after her death in 2009. Two years before her passing a collector from Chicago, John Maloof acquired some of her works, which he uploaded to the internet. The images went viral two years later, allowing Maier’s work to gain international acclaim. Her photos have since been exhibited in 24 countries. This year, the collection is making a stop in Taiwan.

Lin Tzu-ming
Organizer
We know Vivian Maier was a babysitter. Unlike the other famous photographers, we never know who she is. After John Maloof found her film, we just opened a new door to get to know her story.

The Vivian Maier Exhibition showcases a selection of 113 classic works, including 20 rare color works. The pictures mostly fall under nine themes such as portraits, New York, color photography, travel and children. The exhibition is divided in six areas, allowing viewers to travel back to the streets of New York and Chicago in the ’50s and ’70s. Maier’s work can be divided into two series: “Street Photography” and “Self-Portraits.”

Henry Wang
Photographer
Her techniques from what you can tell on this non-digital period of this analogue output, I would say she’s outstanding. Her theme and content are all of her own value. It’s unique and different from other people.

The exhibition is now making the third stop of its Asian tour in Taiwan, after visiting Seoul in South Korea and Beijing in China. Those who want to immerse themselves in Maier’s captivating work need only head over to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei.