Casting light on East and West: The pioneering photography of Harry Gruyaert

One of the great photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, Harry Gruyaert has travelled extensively since the late 1960s to capture scenes across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and America.

Belgium, Antwerp, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Belgium, Antwerp, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Born in Belgium in 1941, Gruyaert was one of the first European photographers to take advantage of colour, following in the footsteps of US pioneers like William Eggleston and Stephen Shore. Heavily influenced by Pop Art, his dense compositions are known for weaving together texture, light, colour and architecture to create filmic, jewel-hued tableaux.

Now London's Michael Hoppen Gallery is bringing together an overview of works from Gruyaert, spanning everywhere from the landscapes of Morocco to the streets of Moscow. The show, entitled Western and Eastern Light, runs from 9 May to 27 June, and aims to highlight his ability to, in the words of Magnum, "photograph the subtle chromatic vibrations of Western and Eastern Light."

Main image: Belgium, Antwerp, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Spain, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Spain, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Trivandrum, India, 1989 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Trivandrum, India, 1989 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Egypt, Cairo, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Egypt, Cairo, 1988 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery

Morocco, Ouarzazate, 1982 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos. Courtesy of Michael Hoppen Gallery

Morocco, Ouarzazate, 1982 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos. Courtesy of Michael Hoppen Gallery

USA, Los Angeles, 1982 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos. Courtesy of Michael Hoppen Gallery

USA, Los Angeles, 1982 © Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos. Courtesy of Michael Hoppen Gallery

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