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Photo Exhibition, “Szipál 101 – Light – Life – Legacy” Opens 

About the artist:

Márton Szipál was born into a photography dynasty in Debrecen 101 years ago and his career spanned all the way to Los Angeles. He opened a studio called Martin Studio on Sunset Boulevard. He became the centre of social life, his house was open to everyone, everyone who mattered in any area of ​​public life visited him. He became a well-known and sought-after photographer, he was called “Martin, the king”.

He opened his first shop in Debrecen in 1946, and in 1954 he was a founding member of the Debrecen Association of Fine Photographers. In 1956 he emigrated and moved to the United States of America, where he became a sought-after photographer. His studio has hosted celebrities such as John Wayne, Tommy Lee Jones (actor), Leslie Nielsen (actor, comedian), Tracy Nelson (actor), Charlene Tilton (actress, singer), Olivia Hussey (actress, Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film Romeo and Juliet), Margaux Hemingway (model, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway), Henry Miller (writer, painter), Timothy Hutton (American actor, film director), Priscilla Presley (actress) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (world-class basketball player). The images of them and the legendary stories associated with them are also part of his oeuvre.

About the exhibition:

The exhibition on the 3rd floor of MODEM will showcase Szipál’s photography and personality, including his life story and parental influences through documents. It emphasizes his compositional principles, unique interiors, and the harmonies defining his style. The space will feature his studios and recreate one “on the Szipál model” to immerse visitors in his creative environment. Organized under “Light-Life-Heritage”, it also discusses “Teaching”, summarizing his impact post-Los Angeles. The photography presentation reflects his organizational principles, echoing the reception areas of his studios and home.

Letters related to his person and work will also become visible, including what Henry Miller or Olivia Hassey wrote to him after the photo was taken. Some of the photographs on display are original copies, which are valued pieces of Szípál’s photographic legacy and are being presented in such a comprehensive manner for the first time after his death. Some of the canvas prints from the archive are also part of the exhibition, combined with later prints.

 

Date: 14 June – 5 October
Location: MODEM

Source:modemart.hu |Photo credit:Photo credit:Debrecen Városa FB