The Béton Center of Visual Culture presents the exhibition «Artists and Photography», which will introduce visitors to the unique works of renowned artists who use photographic techniques in their art. In their hands, photography transforms from a supporting medium into a powerful tool for artistic expression, allowing artists to create masterpieces that have become a staple in leading museum and private collections worldwide. The exhibition includes more than 60 works by such artists as Ivan Aivazovsky, Man Ray, Eugène Druet, Vladimir Tatlin, Alexander Rodchenko, Francisco Infante-Arana, Igor Makarevich, Boris Orlov, Olga Chernyshova, and others.

In today’s world, where photography has been a familiar part of our lives since childhood, smartphones and consumer-grade cameras have become commonplace and unremarkable. However, the availability of visual material does not necessarily equate to its quality, whether in terms of technical, content, or expressive aspects. In this broader context, the question of photography’s role in shaping global visual culture is met with mixed reactions. As a result, the number of individuals who recognize the significant potential of photography, particularly in its creative dimension, remains relatively small.

All of this naturally raises a number of questions: about the status of photography as a means of artistic expression and, in particular, as an independent form of art; about the ability of humans to control mechanical tools with their creative will, and how this dependence on photography affects our perception of the world around us; and about the potential impact of photographic images on the cultural environment and the global consequences of transferring artistic models from one field to another.

Numerous studies on related topics convincingly demonstrate that it is hardly possible to find exhaustive answers to these and many other questions related to the photographic medium. However, it is the works of artists who have turned to photography in different eras and at different stages of their creative journey – whether as a technical aid, a source of inspiration, an independent art form, an alternative, or a part of a combined synthetic creation – that offer valuable insights or at least shed light on these complex topics.

Through these works, we can trace how, under the influence of a variety of external factors, from the deepening of technological development to a fundamental shift in worldview paradigms, the very essence of photography’s role in the interaction between the human consciousness and the surrounding reality has evolved. Along this path, artists who embraced photographic technologies were not afraid to be at the forefront of events and to exceed the expectations of the general public. They discovered and shared with the audience the fascinating worlds of creative realities that were previously inaccessible to emotional empathy. These pioneers, unlike many others, discovered and illuminated new paths of perception through trial and error, leaving a lasting impact on future generations. Their experiences not only left a lasting mark on cultural history, but also served as a stark reminder that finding a ready-made answer is not the same as actively seeking a solution.