Alex Kayser

A multidisciplinary artist and photographer, Alex Kayser (1949-2015) is known for his unique style, halfway between documentary and narrative, and for his acute sense of humour. Originally from Zurich, he moved to New York in 1978 after travelling extensively in the United States, Europe and North Africa. 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. Like short scenes, they are reminiscent of the absurdist cinema and comic strips that 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's the inclusion of his wheeled poodle in many of the shots, or emphasising the denouement of the narrative. A true work of observation, almost a participatory ethnography, Kayser offers us a joyous window onto this circle of American artists, his circle of friends.

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