Polaroids: a template and an art form

Today, in our society, we have become accustomed to having our wants and needs instantaneously met. Between the tumultuous nature of the news, social media, such as TikTok, and our wide offering of streaming platforms, it would come as no surprise to anyone that we’ve turned ourselves into immediate gratification junkies. Our personal photography has transitioned from the charming analog cameras of our parents, and later on digital equivalents, to simply our smartphones, forgetting about the one that bridges the gap between the two, Polaroid. Satisfying us on many levels from our senses with their unique scent, snapping sound, and the ability to observe the picture developing in our hand to charming-looking cameras and their straightaway printed, idiosyncratic pictures, Polaroids are so much more than that! Dripping with charm, spontaneity, and nostalgia, they can be found in pretty much any family album.

Helmut Newton discovered the benefits of Polaroid photography early on in his career. Starting in the 1960s all the way up until his death in 2004, the iconic photographer utilized them as his primary source of preparation for fashion shoots. Boundary-pushing for its time, Newton’s erotically charged and provocative fashion photography was sought after by all the leading magazines and brands around the globe. Taking snaps with his beloved little Polaroid camera ahead of the actual shoot, they served as a visual guide for him, assisting him in gauging the light and composition and allowing him to correct things as needed before he went on to capture images with the actual camera. Over the years, these images have grown into an art form in themselves, become highly valued at auctions, and were published in two books dedicated in their entirety to them, Pola Woman in 1992 and posthumously Polaroids in 2011.

Curated by Dr. Matthias Harder, a new group exhibition dedicated to Polaroids has now opened at the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin. On display alongside works by 60 additional photographers is a selection of Newton’s original Polaroids that were specially chosen from the archive for the occasion. Starting with the initial concept and ending at the final pictures, visitors will be afforded the unique opportunity to glean into the late photographer’s creative process, up-close and in person. From Pola Sieverding’s series Valet, featuring close-up views of male wrestlers, Maurizio Galimberti’s monumental Polaroid mosaics, two series, Toxic and Expired by Marike Schuurman, to Charles Johnstone’s unique artist’s books, and Sheila Metzner’s timeless works taken from the Newtons’ personal collection, the exhibition expands on the understanding and appreciation for Polaroids as an art form and a template and is showcased in a chronological manner. Whether you’re a Helmut Newton fan, a photography fan, or a lover of galleries and exhibitions, we encourage you to take your time and soak in the works.

Polaroids is on display until July 25th at the Helmut Newton Foundation Museum für Fotografie Jebensstrasse 2 D - 10623 Berlin