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Christopher Williams

MoMA presents “Christopher Williams: The Production Line of Happiness”, the first retrospective devoted to one of the most influential cinephilic artists working in photography.

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  • 01 August 2014
  • New York

The exhibition “Christopher Williams: The Production Line of Happiness” brings together outstanding works that engage the conventions of photojournalism, picture archives, and commercial imagery within their sociopolitical contexts.

“The Production Line of Happiness” begins with an installation of extensive vinyl “supergraphics” covering the walls outside the exhibition space. These supergraphics – black letters on a red oversaturated AGFA color ground – feature elements culled from the exhibition catalogue, such as the checklist, graphics, and selected writings, so that the exhibition appears to unfold from the book.

Top: Christopher Williams, Loading the film (ORWO NP15 135-36 ASA 25, Manufactured by VEB Filmfabrik Wolfen, Wolfen, German Democratic Republic) / Exakta Varex IIa / 35 mm film SLR camera / Manufactured by Ihagee Kamerawerk Steenbergen & Co, Dresden, German Democratic Republic / Body serial no. 979625 (Production period: 1960–1963) / Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar / 50mm f/2.8 lens / Manufactured by VEB Carl Zeiss Jena, Jena, / German Democratic Republic / Serial no. 8034351 (Production period: 1967–1970) / Model: Christoph Boland / Studio Thomas Borho, Oberkasseler Str. 39, Düsseldorf, Germany / June 25, 2012, 2012. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 50.8 x 61 cm, framed: 84.7 x 94.8 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Acquired through the generosity of David Dechman and Michel Mercure in honor of Joel Wachs. Courtesy of the artist; David Zwirner, New York/London; and Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne © Christopher Williams. Above: Christopher Williams, Kodak Three Point Reflection Guide / © 1968, Eastman Kodak Company, 1968 / (Corn) / Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California / April 17, 2003, 2003. Dye transfer print. Paper, 40.6 x 50.8 cm; framed: 74 x 81.6 cm. Collection of Thomas Struth, Berlin © Christopher Williams

One salient aspect of the MoMA installation is the display of walls culled from previous exhibitions, foregrounding Williams’s long-standing engagement with architecture and the history of display. The walls chosen for this installation include: a mobile wall with trolley and a mobile wall on a platform, both from Williams’s exhibition at The Art Institute of Chicago; wall fragments from the previous MoMA exhibitions “Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling” and “Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926–1938”; and the reconstruction of a wall from the 1958 exhibition “Jackson Pollock” at Whitechapel Gallery, London.

Christopher Williams, <i> Kodak Three Point Reflection Guide / © 1968, Eastman Kodak Company, 1968 / (Meiko laughing) / Vancouver, B.C. / April 6, 2005</i>, 2005. Chromogenic color print. Paper:50.8 x 61 cm; framed: 86.4 x 95.9 cm. Glenstone. Courtesy of the artist; David Zwirner, New York/London; and Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne © Christopher Williams
<b>Left</b>: Christopher Williams, <i> Erratum / AGFA Color (oversaturated) / Camera: Robertson Process Model 31 580 Serial
Christopher Williams, <i> RITTERSPORT / Von oben nach unten/from top to bottom / 100g Tafeln/100 g Bars / Offizieller Produktname/Official Product Name/Ean Code Bar/ / UPC Code for Case/Bars per Case / Voll Nuss/ Whole Hazelnuts/4000417019004/050255013005/10 / Joghurt/Yogurt/4004170270 09/ 0525502700/12 / Voll Erdnuss/4000417266202/…/10 / Weisse Voll Nuss/ White Whole Hazelnuts/4000417013002/ / 050255013003/10 / Marzipan/Marzipan/40041725005/050255025006/12 / Cappucino/Cappuccino/40004172300 03/0550255230042/12 / Fotostudio Axel Gnad, Düsseldorf / October 21, 2008 (No. 1)</i>, 2009. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 50.8 x 61 cm; framed: 85.4 x 94.3 cm. Collection of Liz and Eric Lefkofsky © Christopher Williams
Christopher Williams, <i>Bergische Bauernscheune, Junkersholz / Leichlingen, September 29th, 2009</i>. 2010. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 50.8 x 61 cm; framed: 83.5 x 94.1 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Committee on Photography Fund. Courtesy of the artist; David Zwirner, New York/London; and Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne © Christopher Williams
<b>Left</b>: Christopher Williams, <i>Weimar Lux CDS, VEB Feingerätewerk Weimar / Price 86.50 Mark GDR / Filmempfindlichkeitsbereich 9 bis 45 DIN und 6 bis 25000 ASA / Blendenskala 0,5 bis 45, Zeitskala 1/4000 Sekunde bis 8 Stunden, ca. 1980 / Models: Ellena Borho and Christoph Boland / November 12, 2010</i>, 2010. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 61 x 50.8 cm; framed: 95.3 x 82.6 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago, Photography Associates, James and Karen Frank, and Comer Foundation funds, 2011.318. Courtesy of the artist; David Zwirner, New York/London; and Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne © Christopher Williams. <b>Right</b>: Christopher Williams, <i>Fachhochschule Aachen / Fachbereich Gestaltung / Studiengang: Visuelle Kommunikation / Fotolabor für Studenten / Boxgraben 100, Aachen / November 8, 2010</i>, 2010. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 61 x 50.8 cm; framed: 97.2 x 83.8 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Committee on Photography Fund. Courtesy of the artist; David Zwirner, New York/London; and Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne © Christopher Williams
Christopher Williams, <i>Untitled (Study in Yellow and Green/East Berlin) / Studio Thomas Borho, Oberkasseler Str. 39, Düsseldorf, Germany / July 7, 2012</i>, 2012. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 16 x 20! (40.6 x 50.8 cm); framed: 30 1/4 x 33 1/2! (76.8 x 85.1 cm). Katherine and Keith L. Sachs © Christopher Williams
Christopher Williams, <i>Cutaway model Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/15 ZM / Focal length: 15mm. Aperture range: 2.8 – 22. No. of elements/groups: 11/9 / Focusing range: 0.3 m–infinity. Image ratio at close range: 1:18 / Coverage at close range: 43 cm × 65 cm. Angular field, diag./horiz./vert.: / 110/100/77° / Filter: M 72 × 0.75. Weight: 500 g. Length: 86 mm / Product no. black: 30 82016. Serial no.: 15555891. / (Subject to change.) / Manufactured by Carl Zeiss AG, Camera Lens Division, Oberkochen, Germany / Studio Rhein Verlag, Düsseldorf / January 18, 2013</i>, 2013. Pigmented inkjet print. Paper: 40.6 × 50.8 cm; framed: 77.5 × 84.8 cm. Private collection © Christopher Williams
Christopher Williams, <i>Cutaway model Nikon EM. Shutter: / Electronically governed Seiko metal blade shutter vertical travel with speeds from 1/1000 to 1 second with a manual speed of 1/90th. / Meter: Center-weighted Silicon Photo Diode, ASA 25-1600 / EV2-18 (with ASA film and 1.8 lens) / Aperture Priority automatic exposure / Lens Mount: Nikon F mount, AI coupling (and later) only / Flash: Synchronization at 1/90 via hot shoe / Flash automation with Nikon SB-E or SB-10 flash units / Focusing: K type focusing screen, not user interchangeable, with 3mm diagonal split image rangefinder / Batteries: Two PX-76 or equivalent / Dimensions: 5.3 × 3.38 × 2.13 in. (135 × 86 × 54 mm), 16.2 oz (460g) / Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California / September 9, 2007– September 13, 2007</i>, 2008. Chromogenic color print. Paper: 50 .8 x 61 cm, framed: 76 x 94.5 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Acquired through the generosity of Helen Kornblum in honor of Roxana Marcoci and Committee on Photography Fund. Courtesy of the artist; David Zwirner, New York/London; and Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne © Christopher Williams
Christopher Williams, <i>Model
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