ELEANOR MACNAIR: RECREATED MOMENTS - PLAY-DOH ICONS IN THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

 

ELEANOR MACNAIR: RECREATED MOMENTS - PLAY-DOH ICONS IN THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Curated by László Baki

 

Hungarian House of Photography - Mai Manó House 

1065 Budapest, Nagymező utca 20

 

23 April - 22 June 2025

 

 ELEANOR MACNAIR, Original Photograph: Man Ray, Noire et Blanche (1926), Rendered in Play-doh, 2015.

 

This week, Mai Manó House - the Hungarian House of Photography in Budapest - proudly presents Eleanor Macnair: Recreated Moments - Play-Doh Icons in the History of Photography. This landmark exhibition showcases around 50 pieces from Macnair's unique body of work, blending playfulness with artistic reverence. Visitors can look forward to beloved highlights such as A Sudden Gust of Wind (After Hokusai), 1993 by Jeff Wall Rendered in Play-Doh, 2016, alongside new creations that will be unveiled to the public on the occasion of this pivotal exhibition. 

 

ELEANOR MACNAIR, Original Photograph: A Sudden Gust of Wind (After Hokusai), by Jeff Wall rendered in Play-doh (1993), 2016.

 

Eleanor Macnair's art focuses on reinterpreting photographs with a unique twist: she reconstructs iconic photographs using Play-Doh. Her creations simultaneously reflect on the iconography of visual culture and the power of everyday materials while also questioning the authenticity of photography. The transformation is both playful and thought-provoking, demonstrating how art can transcend its traditional bounda 

Macnair's works extend beyond mere aesthetic experience; they delve into the dimensions of timelessness in art and the limits of reproduction, opening up new avenues for interpretation. Her creations provide a fresh context for classic works, whether it be William Eggleston's vibrant photographs or André Kertész's lyrical images. These transformed pieces engage in a playful dialogue with artistic traditions, inviting the viewers to reinterpret photographic narratives. The materials used often evoke childhood memories for many, adding new depth to the understanding of classic photographs and establishing a connection between art and pop culture. This blend of playfulness and intellectual challenge makes Macnair's work distinctive.

 

Eleanor Macnair's clay reconstructions serve as metaphors for both the fragility and permanence of photography. Her works not only creatively reinterpret techniques and visual perspectives but also contribute to a larger social dialogue. The central question raised by her art is: what does copying and recreating mean in the digital age?

Macnair approaches the creative process using simple, everyday tools such as tweezers, scissors, knives, and, of course, Hasbro's colorful Play-Doh clays. The artwork is completed within 24 hours, primarily at night, before the clay has a chance to dry. Once the reliefs are photographed, the artist disassembles the pieces, allowing the raw material to be reused for the next creation. This efficient approach to time and materials not only showcases Macnair's innovative thinking but also encourages reflection on the artistic possibilities of reproduction. The final works are preserved digitally and are also available for purchase as prints.

 

This exhibition also takes visitors on a journey through the history of photography, as the presentation follows the chronological order of the original images that inspired the clay photographs, covering more than 120 years of photography's 186-year history.

 

-László Baki