In the aftermath of the Second World War, when the world was settling itself into entirely new political dynamics and the frontiers of journalism had surpassed previously mapped borders—an entirely different sort of alliance was being forged in the artistic epicentre of New York City. Four friends, sharing a celebratory magnum of champagne at the Museum of Modern Art, came together to create what is today one of the world's most iconic photography agencies.
Magnum Photos, which now has offices in London and Tokyo in addition to the inaugural offices that were launched in New York and Paris in 1947, will celebrate the year with a look back at its most iconic work with public events hosted throughout the year, across the world.
Here's a look at some of the events we're most excited about:
NEW YORK, US
Magnum Manifesto kicked off the retrospective at the International Centre of Photography in New York, with a showcase of group and individual projects that illustrate the nuances of art and documentary evidence that make up the photographic medium. The exhibition, curated by Clement Cheroux and Clara Bouveresse, will be accompanied by a book publication by Thames&Hudson. The exhibition will continue until September 3.
At the beginning of this month, Magnum: A Life in Photography, a collection of over 300 historic and contemporary photographs, went up in a digitised, rotating exhibition on fifty screens at the Fulton Centre. The images, which include works by founders Robert Capa and David Seymour, highlight the importance of photography as a journalistic tool, while also illustrating its capacity for self-expression. Magnum: A Life in Photography will run until June 30.
Magnum 70 at 70 opens early this week at Neuehouse. The exhibition showcases, as the name suggests, 70 photographs of major world events captured by agency photographers; a mark not only of the agency's diversity but also of its precedence in the world of photo journalism. The exhibition, which includes seminal works by Susan Mieselas, Paolo Pellegrin, Martin Parr, and Christopher Andersen, will continue till June 30.
Metrograph, one of New York's leading independent cinemas, will host a film series of motion picture projects directed by Magnum photographers—including Susan Mieslas, Martin Parr, Eli Reed and Elliot Erwitt. The series will run from June 15 to June 24.
Possibly one of the most politically relevant themes of the day is protest; and Protest!, which is set to open at the Milk Gallery on June 20, shares some of the most iconic protest photographs in world history. From Eve Arnold's 1962 portrait of Malcolm X to Larry Towell's photograph from this year's Standing Rock protest, the exhibition takes a look back at the moments that shaped—and continue to shape—our world. Protest! Will go on until July 15.
In addition to the events in New York, a series of showcases and talks will take place in other major international cities across the world.
LONDON, UK
70 in 70 in London will take place at London's King's Cross Station, depicting images that have captured major world events over the past 70 years. The photographs will be presented in a 90m long pedestrian tunnel, with an LED-integrated light wall designed by Allies&Morrison. The exhibition will go on until June 15.
The Live Lab exhibition at the Magnum Print Room is an exhibition of work by Mark Power, Carl de Keyzer and Olivia Arthur, who came together to work alongside Museum of London curator Anna Sparham for a two-week long residency. Live Lab, which is an investigation into the photographic process and a celebration of the medium, will be up until July 14.
CREMONA, ITALY
At Piazza Guglielmo Marconi in Cremona, Italy, Magnum LIFE, an exhibition featuring work by Eve Arnold, Robert Capa, Dennis Stock and Ernst Haas, among others, will explore the relationship between LIFE Magazine and Magnum Photos. Magnum LIFE will run till June 10.
83 black and white vintage prints, from Magnum's first every group exhibition in 1955, have been complexly restored over the course of months and will now be showcased for the first time in Brescia, Italy. Magnum's First will run until June 11.
PARIS, FRANCE
The corridors of 11 stations of the Parisian Metro will showcase “The City in History” will feature photographs depicting the importance of the Parisian transport operator—a total of 174 images, compiled in a public exhibition of unprecedented scale. The exhibition will be up until June 30.
HONG KONG
With its new presence in Asia Magnum Photos is offering a special programme in the region, including events to be hosted in Hong Kong in association with Fine Art Asia, Asia's leading international fine art fair and Boogie Woogie Photography:
Magnum Photos Now: an annual programme of 4 talks in partnership with prestigious local cultural institutions. Launching in March 2017 at the Hong Kong Arts Centre, Magnum Photos Now brings the three organizations together to curate a series of lively debates that will consider critical discourses around photography, exploring its evolution and reflecting its place in the global art market and journalism. The talks will be led by acclaimed Magnum photographers, collectors and curators, to name a few.
Masterclass and Workshops: Alongside with the talks, each Magnum Photographer will lead an educational activity related to the talk theme with a duration of 1 to 5 days. This will give an opportunity to go into further discussion during an inspirational Masterclass and/or shooting Workshop. Activities offer practical, technical and theoretical training to help participants develop their own visual language and the skills required to compete in photography's ever-changing marketplace.
Exhibition: A curated Magnum's show by Magnum Photos and Boogie Woogie Photography reflecting Magnum Photos' unique history and spirit to be held during Fine Art Asia 2017.
ONLINE
Swap Shop, a Magnum Photos partnership with theprintspace, is an ongoing project inspired by the work of David Hurn and curated by photographer Martin Parr. Participants are invited to share photographs on the “thehub”, theprintspace's sharing platform, and 200 shortlisted photographs will be showcased in London. What's more, shortlisted participants can swap photos with each other, and two lucky photographers will even get a chance to swap with Hurn or Parr!
