ICP's 50th Anniversary: Showcasing Five Decades in Photography at The International Center of Photography
The International Center of Photography (ICP) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exhibit that reflects on the powerful role of photography in documenting and influencing social issues. Titled ICP at 50, the exhibit is on view from January 24th, 2024, to May 6th, 2024, in the Lower East Side of NYC.
The exhibit showcases a robust range of photographs, with unique presentational and artistic choices, spanning over 170 spectacular works. These works, dating from 1845 to 2019, offer a journey through distinct eras in both photographic and world history.
ICP has a history of embracing an esoteric side of photography, focusing on "concerned photography." This genre, where photographers use their work to raise awareness about injustice, human rights, and social change, is at the heart of ICP at 50.
Photographs by renowned artists such as Jacob Riis, Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Weegee, Gordon Parks, Louise Lawler, Laurie Simmons, Lorna Simpson, Carrie Mae Weems, and many others are featured in the exhibit.
One of the standout pieces is Malick Sidibe's Nuit de Noel, 1962, which features a cardboard frame decorated with loosely drawn greenery. Another striking work is Carol Summer's Kill for Peace, ca. 1967, which portrays a Vietnamese woman and her children, a victim of the Vietnam War, with piercing accusation and anger in her eyes.
The exhibit also includes works by lesser-known photographers, adding an unfiltered authenticity to the exhibit. For instance, Fazal Sheikh's Northwestern Frontier Province, 1997 focuses on the devastation experienced by Afghan refugee communities before the Soviet-Afghan invasion.
Visitors to the exhibit, like Michelle, find certain pieces particularly striking. Michelle was moved by a photograph with a red frame, appreciating the evidence of the hand it captured.
The ICP was established in 1974 by Cornell Capa, who was devoted to "concerned photography." Capa believed that photography should be used to inform, educate, and inspire social change. ICP at 50 continues this legacy, offering a poignant reminder of the critical role that photography plays in driving social awareness and transformation.
[1] International Committee of the Red Cross: https://www.icrc.org/ [2] Humanitarian Photography: https://www.photography-on-a-mission.org/ [3] Social Documentary Photography: https://www.socialdocumentary.net/ [4] Concerned Photography: https://www.magnumphotos.com/resources/history-of-magnum-photos/concerned-photography/ [5] International Center of Photography: https://www.icp.org/
- The International Center of Photography's (ICP) exhibit, ICP at 50, highlights the transformative power of photography in influencing social issues, with works spanning from 1845 to 2019.
- The exhibition, showcased in NYC from January 24th, 2024, to May 6th, 2024, includes pieces by celebrated artists such as Jacob Riis, Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and Carrie Mae Weems, as well as lesser-known photographers, adding an authenticity to the exhibit.
- ICP, established by Cornell Capa in 1974, continues to uphold its mission of using photography to inform, educate, and inspire social change, aligning with the genre of concerned photography. Visitors to the exhibit can further explore this genre and related resources from organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Humanitarian Photography, Social Documentary Photography, and Magnum Photos.
