Mona Kuhn: Between Modernism & Surrealism | Edwynn Houk Gallery
Mona Kuhn, "Silhouette," 2021.Courtesy of the artist and Edwynn Houk Gallery.
Written by: Aundréa Verdi & Lauren Levesque
The Edwynn Houk Gallery's latest exhibit, "Mona Kuhn: Between Modernism and Surrealism," presents an entrancing collection that masterfully interweaves the realms of surrealist ideas and the power of the nude through the lens of celebrated contemporary photographer Mona Kuhn. The show, running until May 11, showcases solarized photographs from Kuhn's "Kings Road" series, placed in a compelling conversation with seminal works by surreal photography pioneers such as Man Ray, László Moholy-Nagy, Dora Maar, Erwin Blumenfeld, and Bill Brandt.
Kuhn's "Kings Road" series unfolds within the historically and architecturally significant King’s Road House in West Hollywood, designed by the visionary Rudolph Schindler. The series visualizes a young woman's journey as she explores the spaces of this mid-century modernist home.
Mona Kuhn, "Interleaving," 2021. Courtesy of the artist and Edwynn Houk Gallery
Kuhn employs solarization, a technique that momentarily inverts the tones of an image during its development, to create a series of photographs that challenge and blur the lines between the human form and the architectural space it inhabits. This technical manipulation adds a layer of otherworldliness to the imagery. It serves as a metaphor for the dissolution of boundaries between the physical and the ethereal, the body and the space, reflecting the core tenets of Surrealism.
““ Solarization needs toxic chemicals to get the desired effects, the fact that the chemicals are not toxic is not good for solarization, you need the rough and tough stuff, so I could not use an older recipe- but that is what is fun about if you have to come up with your recipe””
Man Ray, "Meret Oppenheim," 1933.
Mona Kuhn’s work is a contemporary exploration of themes deeply rooted in Surrealist tradition. The juxtaposition of her solarized images with those of other pioneers of surreal photography emphasizes a continuous dialogue across generations of artists who challenge the conventional representation of reality.
This further enriches the collection, each artist bringing their unique perspective on the relationship between form, light, and shadow. These historical works provide a contextual backdrop against which Kuhn's photographs can be viewed, highlighting her contribution to the ongoing exploration of surrealism in photography.
Kuhn’s portraits transform the subject into an ethereal entity in a liminal space between the tangible and the imagined. Her technique revitalizes the aesthetic of solarization but also challenges the viewer to reconsider the relationship between the subject and the environment. The shadows cast by the woman on the architectural forms of the King’s Road House do not merely suggest her presence but rather her fusion with the space, a literal and figurative assimilation that reflects the Surrealist fascination with dreams, desire, and the uncanny.
Mona Kuhn, "Spectral," 2021. Courtesy of the artist and Edwynn Houk Gallery.
"Mona Kuhn: Between Modernism and Surrealism" is an experience that invites viewers to navigate the nuanced layers of reality and imagination. Through Kuhn’s lens, the gallery space transforms into a conduit for time travel, connecting the experimental zeal of early 20th-century surrealists with the contemporary quest for meaning and identity.
This show not only celebrates the technical and thematic advancements in photography but also reaffirms the power of visual art to bridge worlds, eras, and ideas. As such, it is an essential viewing for enthusiasts and scholars of photography, architecture, and modern art alike.
