The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation joins forces with the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation to honour the extraordinary artist couple Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) and Martine Franck (1938-2012), with a parallel tribute that is on display in both its museums, in Athens and Andros, from July 3 to October 27, 2024. The works on display, that are part of the collection of the Fondation Cartier-Bresson, give visitors the opportunity to appreciate the particular gaze of both photographers. The works on display, that are part of the collection of the Fondation Cartier-Bresson, give visitors the opportunity to appreciate the particular gaze of both photographers, avoiding any confrontation or comparison.

The exhibitions are accompanied by a detailed catalogue featuring texts by the three curators, namely the Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson Clément Chéroux, the Collection Curator of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson Aude Raimbault and the Head of Collections of the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation Marie Koutsomallis-Moreau.

Under the auspices of the French Ministry of Culture

Martine Franck

Looking at Others

03.07 - 27.10.2024

The Martine Franck retrospective that the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation is organising at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Andros, titled Looking at Others, features approximately 150 of her photographs as well as important archive material, giving visitors the opportunity to delve into the evolution of her work, from her very first steps in 1963 up to her death in 2012.

“I don’t think you can be a good photographer without being curious about others […]”

Martine Franck

One of the main traits of Martine Franck’s character was her curiosity about others, a profound interest she had in people which was also the driving force behind her challenging photographic work. That feeling further defined the subjects she focused on, that ranged from the carelessness of childhood to working class portraits, feminist struggles, Buddhist spirituality and the elderly.

The exhibition showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Andros highlights the immense contribution of that great photographer. Going beyond Martine Franck’s more well-known photographs, it sheds light on other, lesser-known aspects of her work which, however, are just as important. All the subjects she focused on are presented in detail through six thematic sections: the stages of life (childhood, initiation, old age), professional life (workforce, sea workers, public figures), political issues (protests, Saint-Bernard Church, consumerism), feminist struggles (key personalities, activist projects, collective action), spaces of representation and some of her “landscape thoughts”.

The exhibition presents a political artist, committed to the causes of her times, who had a direct and close relationship with her subjects and for whom the camera was a mediator that allowed her to “look at others”.

Guided tours in Greek and English have been scheduled from August 1 to August 31, while group or private guided tours can also take place upon arrangement. Educational programmes for children aged 5-7 and 8-12 as well as interactive family guided tours will also be taking place from July 24 to August 25.

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