Josef Koudelka: Exiles & The Making of

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In 1970, Josef Koudelka leaves Czechoslovakia and goes into exile in England. The photographer has then traveled for over 20 years in Europe and around the world in search of nomadic lives to the rhythm of fairs, carnivals and pilgrimages. His photographs reflect his wanderings and encounters, they speak of passion and reserve, of his ‘rage to see’. The brilliant accompanying essay by Robert Delpire invokes the soul of man in search of a spiritual homeland; it speaks with a remarkable and unforgettable dignity.

The Making of Exiles is not a new version of the previous books, but an exploration of the genesis and the making of this photographic journey. Koudelka´s own image associations of the series are presented along with unpublished photographs including several self-portraits. A text by Michel Frizot, resulting of hours of interviews with the photographer, with many archive documents, shed light on the positions, commitments and lifestyle that led to the iconic series.

Josef Koudelka began his career as an aeronautical engineer, turning full-time to photography in the late 1960s. In 1968, Koudelka photographed the Soviet invasion of Prague, publishing his photographs under the initials P. P. (Prague Photographer). In 1969, he was anonymously awarded the Overseas Press Club’s Robert Capa Gold Medal for the photographs. Significant exhibitions of his work have been held at The Museum of Modern Art and the International Center of Photography, New York; Hayward Gallery, London; Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, Amsterdam; and Palais de Tokyo, Paris.