CPF HIGHLIGHT EXHIBITION · Carolyn Drake · CPF
HIGHLIGHT EXHIBITION · Carolyn Drake · CPF
Ældre mænd ligger nøgne på sofaer poserer, kvinder i en landlig by i Mississippi forklæder sig drilsk bag blomsterarrangementer og dødsmasker, kunstneren selv ses udføre absurde fortolkninger af en skønheds- og charmeguide for kvinder i 1940’erne.
Den amerikanske kunstner og Magnum fotograf Carolyn Drakes fotografiske arbejde bringer på legende vis vigtige diskussioner om køn, kultur og identitet frem og sætter ny farvespil igang i gråzonen mellem dokumentarisk og konceptuel fotografi. Hendes arbejde er antændt af en kristisk undren med strejf af både vrede og empati.
Carolyn Drake bestræber sig på at forstå de indre mekanismer og ‘regler’ for kønnene og kulturel identitet generelt. Hendes værker beriger med nye perspektiver på disse dybt indlejrede mønstre og giver stof til eftertanke, når hun afslører deres indflydelse på kultur og identitet. Resultatet er ofte overraskende, spændende og med indslag af humoristisk selvrefleksion.
Udstillingen på Det Kongelige Teater i juni præsenterer værker fra Drakes seneste prisvindende projekter, der tager udgangspunkt i kollaborative praksisser og selvportrætter: Knit Club (2012-2020), Men Untitled (2020-2023) og Glorify Yourself (2020-2023).
I sin tidlige karriere arbejdede Drake ofte med lokalsamfund og mennesker i magtens udkant, herunder uighurer i det vestlige Kina og unge kvinder, der var isoleret på et tidligere sovjetisk børnehjem i Ukraine. Med tiden har hendes fotografiske projekter i stigende grad fokuseret på de magtdynamikker, der er forbundet med menneskelige relationer, herunder dem, der dannes gennem dokumentariske praksisser. Hun henleder opmærksomheden på og forsøger at undergrave disse dynamikker gennem samarbejde, performance, rolleombytninger og kreativ leg.
Older men lay nude on sofas posing,, women in a rural Mississippi town disguise themselves mischievously behind flower arrangements and death masks, the artist herself is seen enacting absurd interpretations of a beauty and charm guide for women in the 1940’s.
The photographic work of artist and Magnum photographer Carolyn Drake playfully brings forward important discussions around gender, culture, and identity, bringing new color to the grey zone between documentary and conceptual photography. Her work is ignited by wonder with tints of anger and empathy.
Carolyn Drake endeavors to understand the inner workings and ‘rules’ of gender and cultural identity, enriches us with new perspectives on these deeply embedded patterns, and leaves us speculating about their influence on culture and identity. The result is often surprising, intriguing and with stints of humorous self-reflection.
The exhibition at the Royal Danish Theatre in June will feature works from Drake’s most recent and prize winning oeuvre based on collaborative practices and self portraiture, specifically her projects Knit Club (2012-2020), Men Untitled (2020-2023) and Glorify Yourself (2020-2023).
In her early career, Drake often worked with communities and people on the margins of power, including Uyghurs in western China and young women sequestered in an ex-Soviet orphanage. Over time, her photographic projects have paid increasing attention to the power dynamics inherent in human relationships, including those formed through documentary practices. She draws attention to and tries to subvert these dynamics through collaboration, performance, role reversals, and creative play.
HVOR | WHERE
The Royal Danish Theatre, August Bournonvilles Passage 8, København K
HVEM | WHO
Carolyn Drake
HVORNÅR | WHEN
11-17 June 2026
11.00-20.00 | 11AM - 8PM
ENTRÈ | ENTRANCE
fra 135 kr. | From 135 kr.
OM
Carolyn Drake har modtaget adskillige priser og anerkendelser for sit arbejde. Siden 2019 har hun været en del af det berømte fotografiske fællesskab, Magnum Photos. Hun er Guggenheim Fellow, blev tildelt et Fulbright Fellowship i forbindelse med sit arbejde i Ukraine og vinder af The Lange Taylor Prize. Hun har haft store soloudstillinger på Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation i Paris, SFMOMA i San Francisco og på Yancey Richardson Gallery i New York, som også repræsenterer hende. ‘Knit Club’ var finalist i Paris Photo Aperture Book of the Year i 2020. Hun har en uddannelse i mediekultur og -historie fra Brown University.
ABOUT
Carolyn Drake has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work. Since 2019 she has been part of the renowned photographic community, Magnum Photos. She is a Guggenheim Fellow, was awarded with a Fulbright Fellowship in connection with her work in Ukraine and winner of The Lange Taylor Prize. She had major solo exhibitions at the Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation in Paris, SFMOMA in San Francisco and at Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York, who also represents her. ‘Knit Club’ was Paris Photo Aperture Book of the Year finalist in 2020. She has a degree in media culture and history from Brown University.
Instagram · @drakeycake
Image credit: @ Carolyn Drake
FREMKALDT! Ny samtalerække på Det Kongelige Teater
Image credits: © Marie Hald, ukendt, Søren Solkær, Ole Christiansen, Hannibal Frydendal Hansen, Petra Kleis
Copenhagen Photo Festival inviterer for første gang til FREMKALDT, en ny samtalerække under Copenhagen Photo Festival, hvor en stribe kendte danske fotografer møder en kunstner fra en anden sfære af kulturlivet til en samtale om fotografi, kunst og livet som kunstner og menneske i vores tid.
Med samtalen som ‘fremkaldervæske’ bringer festivalen en fotograf og en kunstner sammen til en aften, der giver nye perspektiver på kreativitet, kunst og fotografi. De inviterede fotografer er Marie Hald, Søren Solkær og Petra Kleis, der over tre aftener taler med billedkunstnerne Firoozeh Bazrafkan, Kasper Eistrup og Noah Umur Kanber om kunst, fotografi, inspiration og livet som menneske og kunstner lige nu (læs mere nedenfor).
Publikum kan se frem til en stribe uformelle samtaler med drinks og samtale i intime rammer i Balkonfoyeren på Det Kongelige Teater. Før og efter ‘Fremkaldt’ kan man gå på opdagelse i festivalens hovedudstillinger på Det Kongelige Teater, der blandt andet byder på udstillingen af værker med den britiske Magnum-fotograf Martin Parr.
Om Fremkaldt
‘Fremkaldt’ er en ny samtalerække under Copenhagen Photo Festival, hvor en stribe kendte danske fotografer møder en kunstner fra en anden sfære af kulturlivet til en samtale, hvor de udforsker snitfladerne mellem fotografi og andre kunstpraksisser, vender begreber som inspiration, metode, livet som kunstner, samt hvordan deres kunst knytter an til vores samtid.
Samtalen vil være modereret og foregår på dansk. Billetten giver også adgang til at besøge alle udstillingerne i festivalcentrum.
Image credit: © Marie Hald
Talk · Fremkaldt · Marie Hald & Firoozeh Bazrafkan · 16. juni
Den første udgave af ‘Fremkaldt’ byder på en samtale mellem fotograf Marie Hald og billedkunstner Firoozeh Bazrafkan, der begge benytter kunsten politisk til at styrke de uhørte stemmer og kaste lys over væsentlige samfundsproblematikker.
Den prisvindende fotograf Marie Hald (f. 1987) har gennem sit fotografiske arbejde sat fokus på kvindekrop, sexualitet og køn. Hun har haft flere soloudstillinger i Norden, senest Marie Hald – Exposed på Det Nationalhistoriske Museum i Danmark i 2023. Samme år udgav hun også bogen FEMININ. Hun er blevet fremhævet som et af seks nye talenter på verdensplan af World Press Photo Foundation.
Den iranskfødte billedkunstner Firoozeh Bazrafkan (f. 1982) har markeret sig som en markant fortaler for kunstnerisk ytringsfrihed. Især er hun blevet kendt for sit værk Women, Life, Freedom i 2023, hvor hun rev koranen på et rivejern foran Irans ambassade i Danmark. I 2025 modtog hun Fonsmark-prisen for sin kamp for ytringsfriheden og mod koranloven.
Image credits: © Søren Solkær, @ Ole Christiansen
Talk · Fremkaldt · Søren Solkær & Kasper Eistrup · 17. juni
Denne aften kan du møde fotograf Søren Solkær og billedkunstner og musiker Kasper Eistrup. Solkær og Eistrup har begge på forskellig vis markeret sig stærkt på musik- og kunstscenen for sidenhen at skifte kunstnerisk spor.
Den prisvindende fotograf Søren Solkær (f. 1969) blev internationalt kendt for sine toneangivende portrætter af kunstnere såsom Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, David Lynch og Patti Smith. Han har de senere år fundet tilbage til sin barndoms landskab i Sønderjyllands marskland for at fotografere stærefænomenet ‘sort sol’. De smukke formationer kan bl.a. opleves i bøgerne Black Sun og Starling. Solkær har udstillet over hele verden – fra Kyoto til Sydney og New York – og hans værker indgår i dag i bl.a. Den Nationale Fotosamling.
Billedkunstneren og musikeren Kasper Eistrup (f. 1973) brød igennem som forsanger for rockbandet Kashmir i begyndelsen af 1990’erne. I dag arbejder han som billedkunstner, hvor han integrerer maleri og tegning samt installationskunst. Hans billedkunst har vundet stor anerkendelse, ikke mindst efter han i 2018 blev inviteret til at male et portræt af H.K.H. Kronprins Frederik af Danmark (nu H.M. Kong Frederik X). I 2025 har han været aktuel i DRs Kunstnerkolonien og deltaget i gruppeudstillingen Kunstnerkolonien på Nivaagaards Malerisamling.
Image credits: @ Hannibal Frydendal Hansen, @ Petra Kleis
Talk · Fremkaldt · Petra Kleis og Noah Umur Kanber · 18. juni
Til den sidste udgave af ‘Fremkaldt’ kan du møde fotograf Petra Kleis og billedkunstner Noah Umur Kanber, der begge undersøger identitet og iscenesættelse på legende og performative måder – men med vidt forskellige tilgange.
Portrætfotografen Petra Kleis (f. 1983) fremkalder mennesket med sit kamera. Hendes særlige blik og evne til at få de portrætterede til at sænke paraderne har gjort hende til en af Danmarks mest efterspurgte portrætfotografer. Hun har skudt portrætter af alt fra Tobias Rahim til Dronning Margrethe. I 2022 udgav hun bogen Portraits, og hun åbnede soloudstillingen Petra Kleis på det Nationalhistorisk Museum i 2023.
Billedkunstneren Noah Umur Kanber (f. 1991) er for nylig blevet landskendt for sin kunst og deltagelse i DR formatet Kunstnerkolonien. Kanber er transkvinde og studerende på Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi og er udråbt som et af dansk kunst nye store håb. Deres kunst bevæger sig i krydsfeltet mellem det personlige og det universelle. Kanbers kunst har man senest kunne opleve på gruppeudstillingen Kunstnerkolonien på Nivaagaard Malerisamling (2025).
TALK · Opening Night Conversation · Martin Parr · CPF +
Photo credit: Goa, India, 1993 © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
TALK · Opening Night Conversation · Martin Parr
Join us for the Opening Night Conversation with the world-renowned British Magnum photographer, Martin Parr. The conversation dives into Parr’s comprehensive work on leisure, tourism, and beach life as well as his lifelong dedication to photography. Not least how he keeps up the dedication and curiosity about his practice.
At the event Parr reflects on his approach to photography as a remarkable tool for unveiling paradoxes in our lifestyle and human condition, discusses his approach to documentary photography as well as unfolds perspectives on the development of photography over the course of his life from when he was 14 years old until today.
The impressive landmarks aside, Parr's insistent ongoing anthropological photographs reminds us of the ever-topical issue of being a human. A phenomenon that seems to be more relevant than ever to bring into the light.
Parr has revolutionized documentary photography and is one of the most celebrated, award-winning, and published photographers in the world. During his more than 50-year-long career he has been president of Magnum Photos, published more than 120 photo books, and been exhibited worldwide.
In 2025 he is yet again topical. A new documentary feature ‘I am Martin Parr’ about his impressive work and career is out in cinemas across the world this spring, and in September Penguin Books releases a new autobiography, ‘Utterly lazy and inattentive’, about his long and influential career.
Secure your tickets here! (NEW TICKETS RELEASED) (Gives access to the talk at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and the exhibitions at Gamle Scene on the opening day)
We would like to thank The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts for hosting this event. The academy is next door neighbor to The Royal Theatre at Kongens Nytorv.
Martin Parr announced as highlight 2025
It is with great excitement that Copenhagen Photo Festival presents the world-renowned British Magnum photographer, Martin Parr, as the exhibition highlight of this year’s festival, opening on 12 June 2025 at the Royal Theater in the center of Copenhagen. It will be the photographer’s first larger exhibition in Denmark since 2003.
Martin Parr has in many ways revolutionized documentary photography and is one of the most celebrated, award-winning, and published photographers in the world. Throughout his more than 50-year-long career he has been president of Magnum Photos, published more than 120 photo books, and been exhibited worldwide.
The festival is proud to show highlights from Martin Parr’s extensive career with exhibitions diving into his elaborate work on leisure, tourism, and beach life. The exhibitions will take place both inside the festival's new center at The Royal Theater on Kongens Nytorv and in public space in the city center. During the opening days of the festival, Parr will participate in various activities for both the public and professionals. This part of the program will be announced at the end of February.
Tell-tale mirrors
The distinguished photographer has a unique eye for unveiling the way we present ourselves and behave when we are together in public spheres. Through extensive photographic series, he confronts us with our own self-image in a caringly critical way.
It is probably this unique anthropological eye for our human condition mixed in with a keen sense of humor that has kept his images relevant since he took his first photograph at 13 almost 60 years ago. His images are like tell-tale mirrors that unveil our blind spots, reflect our societal and cultural structures, and in the end also make us laugh at these constructs and ourselves.
“My aim is to make an entertaining image with serious messages.” – Martin Parr
A pioneer of bringing topical issues into the light
Parr's impressive back catalogue of images shows that the discussion we have today of Western values, (over)consumption, and cultural identity dates back decades. He was one of the pioneers in spotting and bringing these issues into the light.
As this year’s celebration of photography will be circling perspectives on the theme of ‘Fremkaldelser/Into the light’, Martin Parr is thus most relevant – both in terms of how we as humans present ourselves in the eye of the public and as a pioneer of bringing these ever-topical issues to our attention.
“Martin Parr sensitises our subconscious – and once we've seen his photographs, we keep on discovering these images over and over again in our daily lives and recognising ourselves within them.” – Thomas Weski, German author, curator and Martin Parr biographer
The clashes and contrasts of everyday life – and photography
In his photos, Martin Parr shows us how stereotypical perceptions clash with everyday human behavior and thus he exposes the contradictory nature we all experience living a modern life. This ‘clash’ is consistent throughout his work. He seeks them out in his motives but also he appreciates the prevalent nature of the clash within the medium of photography in itself – photography can both be presented at Tate Modern and printed on a t-shirt.
“I love the fact that photography is high and low at the same time” – Martin Parr
A new spotlight on photography in the Danish Capital
With the exhibitions of Martin Parr and the remarkable move of the festival center from Refshaleøen to The Royal Theater in the city center, Copenhagen Photo Festival is stepping into the light in an entirely new way this year and for the first time presenting a solo exhibition by an artist and photographer recognised worldwide.
“We are entering a new era for the festival this year, and we are incredibly proud and happy to present photography at one of the most spectacular historical and cultural venues in Copenhagen in the company of one of the most influential and groundbreaking photographers in the world for the past 50 years.
Martin Parr is an enormously generous photographer who has inspired generations of photographers with his images and through his work at the Martin Parr Foundation. The possibility to share Parr's work with the public in the city of Copenhagen and in Denmark on a larger scale for the first time in 20 years is a great honour and privilege.” – Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen, festival director .
Bio
Martin Parr is one of the best-known documentary photographers of his generation. With over 100 books of his own published, and another 30 edited by Parr, his photographic legacy is already established. Parr also acts as a curator and editor. He has curated two photography festivals, Arles in 2004 and Brighton Biennial in 2010. More recently Parr curated the Barbican exhibition, Strange and Familiar. Parr has been a member of the Magnum agency since 1994 and was President from 2013 - 2017. In 2013 Parr was appointed the visiting professor of photography at the University of Ulster. Parr’s work has been collected by many of the leading museums, from the Tate, the Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Martin Parr established the Martin Parr Foundation in 2017. In 2019 the National Portrait Gallery in London held a major exhibition of Parr’s work titled Only Human.