History has shown that some of the world’s greatest inventions often happen by chance. According to the artist’s memoir, it was distraction, slight negligence and a good dose of luck that, in 1922, brought to light Man Ray’s famous ‘rayographs’. A continuous experimenter, provocateur and always a step ahead of his time, Man Ray was not only a witness, but the protagonist, agitator and point of reference of one of the most brilliant periods of creative production of the last century. A new exhibition at Villa Manin near Udine, Italy, explores the different spheres of Man Ray’s work and life: from his frequent travels and illustrious friendships – namely the creative partnership with Marcel Duchamp – to his charming muses – Lee Miller, Kiki de Montparnasse or Meret Oppenheim – and obsession with ever-evolving technology. But, most of all, the exhibition traces the richness of Ray’s work that evolved from photography to painting from film to sculpture, from objet trouvé to pure, unconditional sharpness of thought that was, after all, his most brilliant medium.
Man Ray, Rayography, 1922-1923 – Images courtesy of Man Ray Trust
