Alex Kayser

Multidisciplinary artist and photographer Alex Kayser (1949-2015) stands out for his unique style, halfway between documentary and narrative, and for his sharp sense of humour. Originally from Zurich, he moved to New York in 1978 after exploring the United States, Europe and North Africa on numerous trips. It was during this period that he developed an experimental body of photographic work, fusing photography, performance and video, and focusing on the city's circle of avant-garde artists. His photographs reflect this period of transition. Comparable to short scenes, they remind us both of the absurdist cinema and the comic strip, both of which were at their height during this period. Composed of one or more photos, the works dissect movement and play with our gaze: it's up to the viewer to read between the lines of the different images. The hand-colouring of the prints also draws attention to the humorous elements in his work, whether it be the incorporation of his wheeled poodle in many of his shots, or to underline the denouement of the narrative. A true work of observation, almost the product of participatory ethnography, Kayser offers us a joyous window into this circle of American artists, his circle of friends.

Read the biography