The contradictions of life in Eastern Europe in the 1970s and ’80s. Czech photographer Vladimír Birgus (born 1954) presents black-and-white photographs of Eastern European cities that capture the contrasts between optimistic communist propaganda and the gloomy reality of everyday life in this era.

Fotografije: Vladimír Birgus Besedilo: Jiři Siostrzonek Oblikovanje: Vladimír Vimr Prevod: Derek Paton Založnik: Kàrel Kerlický – KANT Leto: 2019 Trda vezava, 88 strani Jezik: Angleški, Češki Dimenzije: 28 x 24 cm

ISBN: 78-80-7437-295-7

Little known outside of his native Hungary, the body of work Szász created from the late 1950s through the 1970s, epitomises the artistic vision and innovation of photographers active in Hungary during the years of communism. Featuring boldly graphic abstractions primarily drawn from Hungarian life and landscape, Szász’s images communicate through a universal vernacular. Working in the tradition of Hungarian greats such as André Kertész and László Moholy-Nagy, János Szász’s images are notable for their experimentation with radical perspectives, formalist compositions, and stark, black and white contrast printing. Szász’s photographs transform ordinary scenes from his hometown of Pécs — snow-covered vineyards, stacked firewood, and rows of seating in a darkened movie theatre—into bold and graphic compositions. By manipulating darkroom exposure and processing techniques, Szász often reduced his subjects to pattern. He utilised a darkroom process for high-contrast printing, which involved chemical over-processing, then painstakingly bleaching over toned areas with a paintbrush or sponge, to arrive at his dynamically graphic images.

Fotografije: Szász János Besedilo: Kincses Károly Oblikovanje: Bodó Márton Prevod: Szász Balázs Založnik: Szolga Hajnal Leto: 2012 Mehka vezava, 128 strani Jezik: Angleški, Madžarski Dimenzije: 27 x 21 cm ISBN: 978-963-08-2959-5