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Tate Modern Exhibition

Shape of Light 100 Years of Photography and Abstract Art

2 May – 14 October 2018
​Antony Cairns LDN5_051 2017 © Courtesy of the artist Antony Cairns

​Antony Cairns, LDN5_051 2017 © Courtesy of the artist Antony Cairns

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For the first time, Tate Modern tells the intertwined stories of photography and abstract art

Shape of Light is the first major exhibition to explore the relationship between the two, spanning the century from the 1910s to the present day. It brings to life the innovation and originality of photographers over this period, and shows how they responded and contributed to the development of abstraction.

Key photographs are brought together from pioneers including Man Ray and Alfred Stieglitz, major contemporary artists such as Barbara Kasten and Thomas Ruff, right up to exciting new work by Antony Cairns, Maya Rochat and Daisuke Yokota, made especially for the exhibition.

Maya Rochat A Rock is a River (META CARROTS) 2017 © Maya Rochat – courtesy Lily Robert

Maya Rochat, A Rock is a River (META CARROTS), 2017 © Maya Rochat – courtesy Lily Robert

László Moholy-Nagy
K VII (1922)
Tate

John Divola 74V11 1974 Jack Kirkland Collection, Nottingham © John Divola

John Divola 74V11, 1974, Jack Kirkland Collection, Nottingham © John Divola

Barbara Kasten Photogenic Painting, Untitled 74/13 1974 Courtesy the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery, London © Barbara Kasten

Barbara Kasten, Photogenic Painting, Untitled, 74/13 1974 Courtesy the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery, London © Barbara Kasten

Man Ray Rayograph 1922 Private Collection © Man Ray Trust/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2018

Man Ray, Rayograph, 1922, Private Collection © Man Ray Trust/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2018

Aleksandr Rodchenko Radio Station Power 1929 Lent by Jack Kirkland Collection, Nottingham © A. Rodchenko & V. Stepanova Archive. DACS, RAO 2018

Aleksandr Rodchenko, Radio Station Power, 1929, Lent by Jack Kirkland Collection, Nottingham © A. Rodchenko & V. Stepanova Archive. DACS, RAO 2018

 Alvin Langdon Coburn Vortograph 1917 George Eastman House, Rochester, New York © The Universal Order

Alvin Langdon Coburn, Vortograph, 1917, George Eastman House, Rochester, New York © The Universal Order

Wyndham Lewis Workshop c.1914-5 Tate Purchased 1974 © Wyndham Lewis and the estate of Mrs G A Wyndham Lewis by kind permission of the Wyndham Lewis Memorial Trust (a registered charity)

Wyndham Lewis, Workshop, c.1914-5 Tate Purchased 1974 © Wyndham Lewis and the estate of Mrs G A Wyndham Lewis by kind permission of the Wyndham Lewis Memorial Trust (a registered charity)

Maya Rochat A Rock is a River (META LOVE) 2017

Maya Rochat A Rock is a River (META LOVE) 2017

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London SE1 9TG
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Dates

2 May – 14 October 2018

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Exhibition Guide: Shape of Light

Find out more about our exhibition at Tate Modern

Artist

László Moholy-Nagy

1895–1946

Artist

Man Ray

1890–1976

Artist

Barbara Kasten

born 1936

Artist

Thomas Ruff

born 1958

Artist

Georges Braque

1882–1963

Artist

Jackson Pollock

1912–1956

Artist

Carl Andre

born 1935

Artist

Bridget Riley

born 1931

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