Dada photography at Gallery East

By Sun Advocate

Dada photographer Richard Prehn is set to exhibit his work at Gallery East on the USU Eastern campus. The exhibit, Speak to Me: Dada Photography by Richard Prehn, will be exhibited from February 8 through March 4.
A reception and gallery talk will be held on February 11 from 6 – 8 PM. Students, family, and interested public are welcome to attend. The gallery is free and open to the public during the academic year.
Prehn’s photographs emulate the work of pre-World War I Dada artists, Marchel Duchamp, Max Ernst, George Grosz, and Joan Miró. These artists, often using found objects, created work that was meant to protest the materialism of society and the absurdities of war. Among Dadaisms most important artists are Salvador Dali and Man Ray. Considered to be the beginnings of Surrealism and the Avant Garde, the Dada artists produced some of the most memorable and iconic modern works of art in the 20th Century.
Images in Prehn’s exhibit were born out of this 20th Century movement. The exhibit showcases his belief that, as he writes: “reality is… there is no reality.  Art in its many forms, including photography, is subjective. Dada.  The origin of the name and the movement are subject to creative interpretation as well as ambiguity.  Dadaism cannot truly be defined, as it was a rebellion against definition of art and of life and of lifestyle.  Instead it is a living, breathing movement that can only be understood in the mind’s eye of an individual artist.  Or not.”
Richard Prehn—or “Zxorb“ as he chooses to call himself— was introduced to photography and the art of photo-oils by an instructor in college. In 1971, he began to take a serious interest in the art form. He spent over 10 years photographing professional sports, including the Utah Jazz, the U.S./Soviet Union Goodwill Tour, five World Ski Cups and several Olympic events, for United Press International, Associated Press and Reuters. He has shot for numerous magazines and documented a number of architectural reconstructions. His photo-art is held in numerous private collections throughout the world.
With the advent of digital photography, Richard recognized a new avenue opening for his unique presentation of life. He has spent the last 8 years testing and experimenting with different types of mediums to create his one of a kind images, and has become an expert creator in the area of fine art printing. The mediums he uses come from all over the world.