Magnum's Odyssey Print Sale Unveils Global Photographic Journeys
Magnum Photos, the renowned photographic co-operative, has teamed up with The Photographers' Gallery for a special square print sale titled Odyssey, running until Sunday, 29 March. This exclusive event showcases works from more than 100 Magnum photographers, including iconic names such as Eve Arnold, Alec Soth, and Chris Killip. The collection traces diverse paths through memory, across borders, and into the unknown, offering a unique glimpse into both epic migrations and intimate personal reckonings.
Exploring Physical and Emotional Landscapes
The photographs in this sale span multiple decades and continents, revealing how individual stories can mirror larger societal shifts. From Alec Soth's Fairway Motor Inn (2005), part of his series chronicling offbeat moments in American life, to Bieke Depoorter's celestial image from Lowell Observatory in Arizona, which reflects on the sky as a shared memory, each print invites viewers on a profound journey. Depoorter remarks, "Looking at the sky is similar to looking into the past. The stars we see are from a long time ago, maybe even millions of years ago."
Highlights from the Collection
- Sakir Khader captures life on the edges of Jenin, Palestine, in 2023, documenting injustices and defiance amid conflict.
- Eve Arnold presents a classic portrait of Marilyn Monroe reading James Joyce's Ulysses in 1955, showcasing her celebrated work with celebrities.
- Ernest Cole offers a glimpse into train surfing in apartheid South Africa, highlighting its origins in poverty and its evolution into an extreme sport.
- Martin Parr humorously depicts a queue at St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, UK, in 2017, noting the British affinity for orderly lines.
- Sabiha Çimen travels to Ukraine in 2023 to document how cultural institutions cope during wartime, such as a ballet school in Lviv.
Other notable contributions include Alessandra Sanguinetti's intimate farm animal series in Argentina, Antoine d'Agata's exploration of gesture and body in El Salvador, and Bruno Barbey's vibrant scene of pilgrims in Pushkar, India. Each photograph is available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the photographers and the gallery.
A Legacy of Storytelling and Innovation
Magnum Photos has long been a leader in photojournalism and artistic photography. This sale underscores its commitment to capturing the human experience in all its complexity. From Cornell Capa's peaceful portraits in Ecuador to Ernst Haas's innovative color work in a Nevada dust storm, the collection celebrates both historical moments and contemporary issues. As the sale continues, it offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of this rich visual history, inviting collectors and enthusiasts to embark on their own odyssey through these powerful images.
