Picturing Asia

Brian Brake (1927–1988, New Zealand) and Steve McCurry (1950– , U.S.A.) are two eminent photojournalists whose work concurs with the mission of Asia Society—to promote greater understanding of Asia. The catalogue title Picturing Asia references two kinds of picturing: what we do when we make a photograph, and the imaginative act implied by the phrase “picture this”. This “double take” carries over into the experience of seeing the different takes of two great photographers who made their reputations as visual storytellers providing eyewitness accounts of “great events”. This catalogue invites viewers to participate in a rich visual conversation between the two photographers and their individually distinct picturings of Asia.

Brake’s international career as a documentary photographer was launched by his photo essays on China in Life in 1957 and 1959. McCurry’s breakthrough came with the publication of a photograph in the New York Times, 1979, of the war in Afghanistan. Both men photographed the monsoon—Brake in 1960, McCurry in 1983–1985–and it is here that this exhibition begins.

Ian Wedde is a New Zealand writer, curator and critic. From 1994–2004 he was Head of Art and Visual Culture at New Zealand’s National Museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, leading the development of major exhibitions there. His many publications include art catalogues, a monograph on the artist Bill Culbert, as well as collections of essays, novels and poetry. His awards include National Book Awards for fiction, poetry, and art catalogues; a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Auckland, an Arts Foundation Laureate Award, and the Prime Minister’s Award for poetry. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Art and Culture.