01 / 03

In Celebration of Women

"All through my life as a photographer I have made a point of photographing women whom I admire, who have done something special with their lives, who have protested against their fate, also those close to me like my daughter and grand daughter and intimate friends all of whom appear in this collection." Martine Franck

Martine Franck born in Belgium, grew up in the States and in England before studying Art History at the University of Madrid and the Ecole du Louvre in Paris. Growing up amongst a family dedicated to the Arts, Martine had a passion for painting, sculpture and architecture from which she acquired a distinctive eye for composition. It was almost by chance photography came into her life. Having received a visa to visit China in the early 1960s, she borrowed a camera to record her experiences. With her insatiable curiosity, Martine then traveled the globe photographing the social landscape. Her deep interest in the diversified cultures and social classes of everyday life is complimented by her compassion and empathy for her subject matter. Portraiture became the focus of her work.

This exhibition brings together photographs of women, from factory workers in Bucharest to geishas in Kyoto, film stars, artists, writers and performers Martine has photographed since the 1960s. It is both a celebration of women and a testament to the unique vision and empathy of a great photographer.