Sometimes, words fail to describe the impact of the artists who have altered the medium. Robert Frank’s phenomenal work, thus, falls in this league of legends. A man who needs no introduction, Frank opened pathways of possibilities when it came to visual storytelling. Although his first photo book, The Americans, was not exactly well received at the time of its first unveiling, today, it tells a different story. Unflinching and poetic, Frank, an outsider, saw America in all hues and shades; for that, he will always be remembered. Despite his life encompassing varied art forms, The Americans remains the only relic of his legacy. To ensure that his heritage doesn’t offer a one-dimensional perspective of a man with many talents, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has announced a new exhibition, Life Dances On: Robert Frank in Dialogue, which portrays his foray into interdisciplinary art.
The lead image is by Robert Frank, courtesy of MoMA. All images are used with permission.
After Frank’s photo book (1958), the author’s six-decade-long career saw enduring experimentation and partnerships across various mediums. The New York Times, in its obituary following the artist’s death in 2019, also commented how he “would eventually be remembered as a filmmaker more than as a photographer.” Frank made his first film, Pull My Daisy, a year after The Americans, which became a cornerstone of avant-garde cinema. In 1965, after Me and My Brother, Robert Frank blurred “the line between documentary filmmaking and staged narrative scenes.” And now, on his centennial birthday this November, MoMa will feature more than 200 objects, including photographs, films, books, and archival materials. While MoMA has displayed Frank’s work since 1950, this is the first time the author’s solo exhibition has been put up there.
The title of the showcase, Life Dances On, has been borrowed from his film of the same name, released in 1980. To organize the in-depth display, Lucy Gallun, curator, with Kaitlin Booher, a Newhall Fellow, and Casey Li, a 12-month intern at the Department of Photography, came together to weave an unseen story. The show has been designed to portray his photographs and films while highlighting the importance of people who helped to shape his endearing perspective. Frank’s words, from his writings, the negatives of his pictures, and quotes from interviews will form a cohesive narrative as part of a catalog for the exhibition.
There are too many images, too many cameras now. We’re all being watched. It gets sillier and sillier. As if all action is meaningful. Nothing is really all that special. It’s just life. If all moments are recorded, then nothing is beautiful and maybe photography isn’t an art anymore. Maybe it never was.
Robert Frank
The new display will also include his movies, such as Pull My Daisy (1959), his “visual diaries,” a selection of photographs from Life Dances On film, and Robert Frank’s Scrapbook Footage. The last bit was compiled by a longtime film editor of Frank’s Laura Israel, who used unseen video footage. A multiscreen installation is also created from newly restored material, showcasing the author’s experimentation. Through this opportunity, photographers will get a chance to witness Robert Frank’s artistic inspiration, family, partnership, loss, and memory, as well as his personal traumas and life experiences. For instance, the film on which the title is based depicts how his daughter Andrea and his friend and film collaborator Danny Seymour shaped his outlook. The exhibit also displays personal artifacts, correspondence, and maquettes, which have been loaned by artist June Leaf and the Robert Frank Foundation.
Life Dances On: Robert Frank in Dialogue will be on display from September 15 to January 11, 2025, and Robert Frank’s Scrapbook Footage will be on display until March 2025. For more information, visit MoMa’s website.