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Evelyn Richter: A photographic journey to the Russian soul in Leipzig
The exhibition "Light in the Dark" at the MdbK Leipzig shows Evelyn Richter's impressive photography and documents her unique view of Orthodox life.
Evelyn Richter: A photographic journey to the Russian soul in Leipzig
Encountering an often hidden part of people's lives is the focus of the latest exhibition at the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts (MdbK). It provides insights into the work of the important GDR photographer Evelyn Richter, who is known for her aesthetic images that document life far away from public propaganda. Under the title "Evelyn Richter. Light in the Dark," the show shows a collection of Richter's color photographs that she took during her last trip to Russia in April 2012 at the Pafnuti Monastery in Borovsk. This trip marked a personal highlight in Richter's creative career, which she always combined throughout her impressive career with a deep curiosity for the "Russian soul", which she associated with the Orthodox faith and the Passion of Christ [MDR].
The exhibition, curated by Jeanette Stoschek, shows the moments of mystical immersion in which believers and monks are captured in prayer and humility. Richter's photographs evoke memories of the works of 19th century Russian realists, particularly those of Ilya Repin. In addition, the exhibition documents the creation of the Pafnuti series and presents some works that are being presented publicly for the first time. Richter had already made her first trip to Moscow in 1957, which shaped her fascinating relationship with the region's often closed churches.
A life for photography
Evelyn Richter, born near Bautzen in 1930 and died in Dresden in 2021, grew up in a Protestant environment that shaped her view of faith. This religious fascination is clearly visible in her work. She learned to take photographs in museums and during her travels, especially in front of the icons and religious images that were often hidden during the socialist era. Her depiction of people in this context led to a long-term project that focuses on museum visitors. During her last visit to Moscow, Richter was permitted to attend an Easter service in restored churches and monasteries, which gave her a new perspective on her long-held desire to capture lived religiosity in Russia, and capturing this splendor of color was achieved with her conscious decision to take color photography, as the MdbK website confirms: mdbk.de.
The exhibition at the MdbK, which includes works from over fifty years, not only presents the colorful photographs of the Pafnuti series, but also connects the genesis of Richter's work and the political context in which she lived. Political themes, such as the defining image of an angry mother in front of a monastery gate in 1989, make the depth of her engagement with the world clear. The beautiful, warm colors she captured contrast with the often difficult political circumstances of her time.
"Evelyn Richter. Light in the Dark" remains not only a visual exploration of her art, but also a powerful testimony to her life and work, which gives history and the people in and around East Germany a face. Thanks to the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung, the Evelyn Richter Archive in the MdbK was able to acquire the important group of works and thus carry an important part of contemporary photography into the future.