Dorothy Bohm. A World Observed

“Bohm’s work, like her life, exhibits a light dérive – wandering through familiar and newly discovered places, she observes the world, is constantly amazed by it, and expresses that amazement in her photographs. <…> She revels in the ephemerality of everyday life, yielding to her intuition and following the trail of reality, which melts before her eyes, snagging it with her camera,” – writes the essay author Margarita Matulytė.

“A World Observed 1940-2010” is a retrospective exhibition showcasing the remarkable work of the photographer Dorothy Bohm, who is widely acclaimed as one of the leading figures in British photography. Born Dorothea Israelit (Bohm was her husband’s surname) in 1924 in Königsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad), her life’s journey led her to Memel (now Klaipėda) in 1932. In June 1939, with the Nazis approaching, her parents sent the young girl to England.

In England, Dorothy pursued her passion for photography, eventually specializing in portrait photography and establishing her own studio in Manchester. Her career took off, culminating in her first solo exhibition in London in 1969. Renowned photographer André Kertész, a friend and inspiration, admired her striking Polaroids. She also enjoyed a creative friendship with the British documentary photographer Martin Parr. Throughout her artistic journey, Bohm accumulated an impressive portfolio, featuring twenty-five solo exhibitions and authoring over fifteen publications.