BEAUTY issue
aRUDE comment
ONLINE content
ARBITERS
Questions for Stephen Knoll
A Girl's Best Friend
BON APPÉTIT
Questions for Nobu Matsuhisa
Questions for Tony Esnault
the new Le Cirque interview Iké Udé
BUSINESS OFF THE WALL
Questions for Nicholas Callaway
Questions for John Hunt
FASHION
Chinatown photography Norman Watson
Passions of Rihanna photography Iké Udé
KULTURE & ART CINEMA
Dominique Swain Lolita Has A Tattoo interview Brandon Judell
Jared Leto My Bashed-up Life On Screen interview Brandon Judell
Zoe Saldana No Regrets interview Brandon Judell
KULTURE & ART PHOTOGRAPHY
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders portraits backstage at Olympus Fashion Week interview Valerie Steele
Francesco Clemente Impermanence of The Self interview Johan Falkman
Roger Szmulewicz Looking at Pictures interview Parker Stephenson
aRUDE comment
beauty_issue_roger.php
ONLINE content
ARBITERS
Questions for Stephen Knoll
A Girl's Best Friend
BON APPÉTIT
Questions for Nobu Matsuhisa
Questions for Tony Esnault
the new Le Cirque interview Iké Udé
BUSINESS OFF THE WALL
Questions for Nicholas Callaway
Questions for John Hunt
FASHION
Chinatown photography Norman Watson
Passions of Rihanna photography Iké Udé
KULTURE & ART CINEMA
Dominique Swain Lolita Has A Tattoo interview Brandon Judell
Jared Leto My Bashed-up Life On Screen interview Brandon Judell
Zoe Saldana No Regrets interview Brandon Judell
KULTURE & ART PHOTOGRAPHY
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders portraits backstage at Olympus Fashion Week interview Valerie Steele
Francesco Clemente Impermanence of The Self interview Johan Falkman
Roger Szmulewicz Looking at Pictures interview Parker Stephenson
ROGER SZMULEWICZ looking at pictures
interview Parker Stephenson
Roger Szmulewicz photography Stephan Vanfleteren click image to enlarge An active and respected figure in Europe's fine art photo world, Roger Szmulewicz is celebrating his gallery's seventh year in Antwerp. Stepping into his gallery, Fifty One Fine Art Photography, you might encounter an emerging artist's installation or perhaps an exhibition of classic vintage black&white photography. His artists subjects run the gamut from fashion shots to African family portraits, angst-ridden teens, landscapes, and nudes. Never one to sit still, he has organized exhibitions far and wide.
Parker Stephenson: How do you pronounce your last name?
Roger Szmulewicz: How I pronounce my name ...hhmm difficult in writing. It sounds like "Szmulewicz" or try "Schmulevitz ".
PS: I am envious of your ability to gracefully balance your schedule between running a gallery and traveling the globe. What is the most mileage you racked up recently and what was the purpose of the trip?
RS: My most recent trip was to London, last week. I was participating at Photo London, a new photo fair.
PS: Who walked your puppy, Josh, while you were gone?
RS: I have lovely parents, a girlfriend and friends who take care of Josh when I'm away. It's important to have somebody reliable to watch your dog. It's always heartbreaking to leave your dog. I never get used it.
PS: With all that you have on your plate, what is your regimen for keeping mentally calm and physically fit? Do you meditate?
RS: I wish I could meditate. Unfortunately I don't have enough patience to do it, or to learn it. Sports is also something that has disappeared from my life. Although, I always think that I will start again soon. It's been 3 years now! I heard sophrology is a good thing to do to keep calm.
PS: What's that?
RS: I'm not sure yet what it entails, but I do know that sophrology is the science that works to modify the human conscientiousness with the aim of reaching spiritual harmony with oneself and one’s environment.
PS: Wow. OK, I can dig that. You recently accepted an invitation to a reception with the King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Belgium and the Queen of Holland. Is this typical of your social calendar or was there a special occasion?
RS: Not at all. The director of De Buren who organized this event invited me. In 2004 the Netherlands and Flanders opened a cultural institute called deBuren, meaning, the neighbors, to serve as a centre of debate and reflection. In Brussels, the capital of Europe, deBuren was given the task of presenting and documenting the culture of the Low Countries and of providing a platform for debate on culture, society and politics in the Netherlands, Flanders and the rest of Europe. Last month I organized a show there with one of my Dutch artists, Fleur Boonman.
PS: You seem to curate quite a few exhibitions abroad and at other local venues as well as managing a full schedule at your gallery. You organized a show of Kimiko Yoshida's color work at Issey Miyake in New York, the group show at the art festival in Prague, and the William Klein show at the FotoMuseum in Antwerp among many others. Is this a function of actively promoting the artists you represent, or of welcoming the challenges presented when approaching this wide variety of venues, or is it rather part of your concept to introduce the art of photography to a broader audience?
RS: Not all the shows I curate include photographers I represent. I do indeed want to introduce art photography to a broader audience. When I started, photography was not "fashionable" and I always had comments like "photography is not art ". Today you hear it less and less but there are still people that think that photography can't have the same artistic value as painting or sculpture.
PS: At your gallery, Fifty one Fine Art Photography you represent a variety of photographers, from 20th century masters like William Klein and Arnold Newman whose photography is mostly black and white to lesser- known contemporary artists who have large scale color work. What is the vision you have for your gallery that encompasses this broad range and how did you come to make your selection of artists?
RS: First, I try to show quality. Regardless of whether the artist is known or unknown. Don't forget: any famous artist was unknown at some time. Second, I try to make links between 20th century and contemporary photography. I think that everything has a logical progression. So basically most of the artists I show are, from closely or loosely linked to one another through the history of photography. I also try to show different visions—styles and techniques in photography. Photography is a medium that almost everybody is using: in advertising, fashion, art, reportage... Sometimes it becomes confusing for the viewer. I think it's important to be able to recognize the differences.
PS: Does a passion for the arts run in your family?
RS: A little bit. My parents are very interested in art but not particularly in photography. They are more into Japanese art.
PS: Since this is issue of aRUDE is about beauty, can you comment on beauty in photography? Is it something you look for in a successful work?
RS: It's a tricky question because we would need to define first what beauty is. What I think is beautiful in a photograph is not necessarily an aesthetic value that one imagines: a good looking woman or man or beautiful sunset. I can appreciate an aesthetic input but that is not the first thing I look for.
PS: What words of wisdom and advice do you have for artists using photography looking for representation?
RS: Be aware of what you are showing. Edit your work and be patient. Good work is always rewarded.
interview Parker Stephenson
Roger Szmulewicz photography Stephan Vanfleteren click image to enlarge An active and respected figure in Europe's fine art photo world, Roger Szmulewicz is celebrating his gallery's seventh year in Antwerp. Stepping into his gallery, Fifty One Fine Art Photography, you might encounter an emerging artist's installation or perhaps an exhibition of classic vintage black&white photography. His artists subjects run the gamut from fashion shots to African family portraits, angst-ridden teens, landscapes, and nudes. Never one to sit still, he has organized exhibitions far and wide.
Parker Stephenson: How do you pronounce your last name?
Roger Szmulewicz: How I pronounce my name ...hhmm difficult in writing. It sounds like "Szmulewicz" or try "Schmulevitz ".
PS: I am envious of your ability to gracefully balance your schedule between running a gallery and traveling the globe. What is the most mileage you racked up recently and what was the purpose of the trip?
RS: My most recent trip was to London, last week. I was participating at Photo London, a new photo fair.
PS: Who walked your puppy, Josh, while you were gone?
RS: I have lovely parents, a girlfriend and friends who take care of Josh when I'm away. It's important to have somebody reliable to watch your dog. It's always heartbreaking to leave your dog. I never get used it.
PS: With all that you have on your plate, what is your regimen for keeping mentally calm and physically fit? Do you meditate?
RS: I wish I could meditate. Unfortunately I don't have enough patience to do it, or to learn it. Sports is also something that has disappeared from my life. Although, I always think that I will start again soon. It's been 3 years now! I heard sophrology is a good thing to do to keep calm.
First, I try to show quality. Regardless of whether the artist is known or unknown.
Don't forget: any famous artist was unknown at some time.
PS: What's that?
RS: I'm not sure yet what it entails, but I do know that sophrology is the science that works to modify the human conscientiousness with the aim of reaching spiritual harmony with oneself and one’s environment.
PS: Wow. OK, I can dig that. You recently accepted an invitation to a reception with the King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Belgium and the Queen of Holland. Is this typical of your social calendar or was there a special occasion?
RS: Not at all. The director of De Buren who organized this event invited me. In 2004 the Netherlands and Flanders opened a cultural institute called deBuren, meaning, the neighbors, to serve as a centre of debate and reflection. In Brussels, the capital of Europe, deBuren was given the task of presenting and documenting the culture of the Low Countries and of providing a platform for debate on culture, society and politics in the Netherlands, Flanders and the rest of Europe. Last month I organized a show there with one of my Dutch artists, Fleur Boonman.
PS: You seem to curate quite a few exhibitions abroad and at other local venues as well as managing a full schedule at your gallery. You organized a show of Kimiko Yoshida's color work at Issey Miyake in New York, the group show at the art festival in Prague, and the William Klein show at the FotoMuseum in Antwerp among many others. Is this a function of actively promoting the artists you represent, or of welcoming the challenges presented when approaching this wide variety of venues, or is it rather part of your concept to introduce the art of photography to a broader audience?
RS: Not all the shows I curate include photographers I represent. I do indeed want to introduce art photography to a broader audience. When I started, photography was not "fashionable" and I always had comments like "photography is not art ". Today you hear it less and less but there are still people that think that photography can't have the same artistic value as painting or sculpture.
PS: At your gallery, Fifty one Fine Art Photography you represent a variety of photographers, from 20th century masters like William Klein and Arnold Newman whose photography is mostly black and white to lesser- known contemporary artists who have large scale color work. What is the vision you have for your gallery that encompasses this broad range and how did you come to make your selection of artists?
RS: First, I try to show quality. Regardless of whether the artist is known or unknown. Don't forget: any famous artist was unknown at some time. Second, I try to make links between 20th century and contemporary photography. I think that everything has a logical progression. So basically most of the artists I show are, from closely or loosely linked to one another through the history of photography. I also try to show different visions—styles and techniques in photography. Photography is a medium that almost everybody is using: in advertising, fashion, art, reportage... Sometimes it becomes confusing for the viewer. I think it's important to be able to recognize the differences.
PS: Does a passion for the arts run in your family?
RS: A little bit. My parents are very interested in art but not particularly in photography. They are more into Japanese art.
PS: Since this is issue of aRUDE is about beauty, can you comment on beauty in photography? Is it something you look for in a successful work?
RS: It's a tricky question because we would need to define first what beauty is. What I think is beautiful in a photograph is not necessarily an aesthetic value that one imagines: a good looking woman or man or beautiful sunset. I can appreciate an aesthetic input but that is not the first thing I look for.
PS: What words of wisdom and advice do you have for artists using photography looking for representation?
RS: Be aware of what you are showing. Edit your work and be patient. Good work is always rewarded.
