Museum The Kennedys – ‘Obama, An Intimate Portrait’ Exhibition

‘Obama: An Intimate Portrait’ Exhibition at the Museum The Kennedys, Auguststrasse 11 – 13, Berlin

No photography allowed inside the exhibition as is the case in most German museums and galleries.

The exhibition leaves me wondering how many of the portraits are truly intimate. Even if not posed, my impression is that the subject, Obama, is usually aware of the camera being there. This does not take away from the power some of these images carry. My favourite ones are the less obvious ones, like the plane sitting ready for take off at sun rise, Obama standing on top of the stairs, looking the other direction. All the photographs are taken in colour, which makes me think whether this was a conscious decision on part of Pete Souza. In my eyes, black and white photography produces more iconic and powerful images, as can be seen when viewing the permanent Kennedy exhibition in the same gallery.