Photographs of the world exhibited in Zurich

The fall of the Berlin Wall 1989. James Nachtwey / Magnum

An exhibition including press photographs of some of the most dramatic world events of recent times has opened at the Zurich Kunsthaus (fine arts museum) to mark the 50th anniversary of the Magnum Photos agency.

The work of such legendary photographers as Robert Capa, René Burri and Henri-Cartier-Bresson are featured in the exhibition, which arrived in Zurich after successful showings in London, Paris, Berlin and Rome. After it ends on October 29, it moves on to Japan and then the United States.

Its theme is broad: “We wanted to exhibit Magnum photographs in the perspective of the turn of the century,” said Diane Auberger, director of Magnum-Europe. “The idea is to show the state of the world as rather like a mosaic.”

The exhibition is divided into three sections: the “Persistence of Rituals” covers long-standing traditions around the world; “Chronicle of Chaos” is the most dramatic, with images of war and natural disasters, which also illustrate the risks often taken by Magnum photographers; and the third section is devoted to everyday life.

Magnum Photos is a cooperative, owned by its photographer-members.

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