“Rome is a movie and Klein did it.”
~ Federico Fellini
1920 -1993
If you love Rome, you love Fellini’s films and who doesn’t? And if you love coffee this might be the perfect image to transport you.
William Klein is one of the great iconoclast 20th Century photographers. He is a one of a kind and there will never be another like him. Fellini is the same. Who else could ever create such unforgettable cinema as “La Strada”, “8 I/2”, “La Dolce Vita”, “Juliet of the Spirits”, “Fellini’s Roma”, “And the Ship Sails On” and so many other classics.They were destined to meet. Klein went to live in Paris after he had created his first amazing book “Life is good and good for you in New York”. He knew Fellini was visiting Paris, he found the hotel where Federico was staying, calls him cold and asks to meet. Fellini asks him round. Klein presents his book to him “I already have it. It’s by my bedside." They connect and Fellini asks him to come to Rome to be his assistant on his upcoming film “Nights of Cabiria." Klein has no clue what being an assistant means. Fellini tells him “If I am sick, you shoot.”He joins him in Rome and the film is delayed. Needing something to do he goes out into the city full force. As Bill says,“How could I make photographic sense out of a city that I barely knew and where I hardly spoke the language? But that’s the problem with photography in general. I was willing to take a shot……I soon found out that the Romans reacted to the camera much like the New Yorkers. Everyone felt that they deserved to be photographed, immortalized.”Whilst he was there I think he created some of his greatest images and echoes in his achievements my favorite words of Fellini,“There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of Life.”
This work among many other iconic images from William Klein will be featured in a major major exhibition in Los Angeles in 35 years: “William Klein: In Your Face!” Opening on Saturday, January 10th and running through May 16th, the exhibition offers an extraordinary look into Klein’s energetic perception of the world and his “no-rules” attitude toward the photographic medium.
There will be an opening reception held at the gallery Saturday, January 10th from 3 to 6pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
