 Click here to read the Ilse Bing story in Spanish on MI HÉROE "Ilse Bing is my poet hero. Her life and her words have inspired me to follow my dreams." "When I first met Ilse, her husband, Konrad Wolff, was beseeching me to rescue her from the very strong undertow off the shore of Tobago. At the age of 80, she was diving for precious pieces of coral with the sea smashing around her undaunted will. We became fast friends. Ilse has given me and those lucky enough to discover her, a reason to believe, to hope and to expect miracles."
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POET HERO:
ILSE BING
by Wendy Jewell
The artistic photographer and poet, Ilse Bing, was born on March 23, 1899, in Frankfurt, Germany. She grew up in a family where arts and sciences were venerated. Known in Europe and New York in the 1930's and 40's as "The Queen of the Leica,"
her poetry and images stand the test of time. Ilse Bing died on March 10, 1998, just short of her 99th birthday, and celebrations in honor of her work took place throughout the year.
Some of the poems that are included in this tribute to Ilse were from a collection of poems entitled:
SNAPSHOTS WITHOUT A CAMERA |
Danseuse de cancan au Moulin Rouge 1931 |
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Motto
the invisible
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ILSE BING
wrote in the introduction of her book:
On the other hand, I found out that grown persons are no more secure, no more free than children. Fundamentally, even if in a different way, they confront the same problems, they are filled with the same hopes, the same anguishes and joys, ...their deepest possible insights go in the same direction...
WOMEN from the cradle to old age
When I was a little girl, children were looked upon as, "not yet"
- something not yet perfect. I resented this approach toward me. But I was no fighter, and I retreated into my own world.
This world was so colorful and so rich that I wanted never to become a grown-up.
Yet, I had to grow up. This childhood experience, however, stayed with me. It helped me see and understand life in a much greater variety and depth. It made me respect all children as persons complete in themselves, as persons who had to find their own way, with ideas and inner struggles as valid as those of grown-ups.
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Danseuses a l'ecole de laban' Frankfurt 1929 |
because it hurts |
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Written by
Wendy Jewell
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National Women's Caucus for Art
The MY HERO Gallery
Self-portrait of Bing as a young woman in Paris.
The MY HERO Gallery
Self-portrait of Bing as an older woman in New York. |
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Kate Kemker from Ringwood, New Jersey, wrote about her hero, Ilse Bing: "...what a strong, creative force. Her passing will more than likely mark her spirit's last incarnation in this realm. She has gone on to loftier dimensions to accomplish even greater feats of love and creativity. She will be missed, but not forgotten. |
RECOMMENDED
READING | |
 Ilse Bing: Photography through the Looking Glass by Larisa Dryansky, Edwynn Houk |
Last changed using MY HERO by Wendy Jewell on: 1/15/2013 3:23:37 PM