In Russia, however, it is Newton's perspective on the female form that has won him fame and adoration, and his R-rated shots are seen as evidence of his ability to transform with his lens female subjects - sometimes clad in no more than a pair of heeled shoes - into Earth-bound goddesses. Newton - whose work very often contains nude or near-nude female models in suggestive poses - has been charged by Western critics for producing work that exploits women and contains sado-masochistic imagery. Having spent much of his life in France and lived since 1981 in Monte Carlo, Newton speaks an English that is peppered with occasional French-language exclamations. Well-tanned and dressed in a black and white cravat, Newton wore an ironic grin at a press conference Friday, but spoke with gravitas and an accent that bears traces of his Berlin birth. The limited edition shots were donated by Volkswagen to various prominent galleries, including the State Hermitage in St. The exhibit, "Helmut Newton: A Retrospective" - which first hung in Berlin's New National Gallery in 2000 - was compiled by June Newton and also features work from "Autoerotic," a collection of photographs featuring the Volkswagen Beetle and three nude female models that was commissioned by the auto manufacturer in 1999. Among the celebrities depicted in various photographs in bold black and white are actresses Debra Winger, Sigourney Weaver, Marlene Dietrich and Catherine Deneuve actor Ralph Fiennes and fashion designer Pierre Cardin. The House of Photography's exhibit is held under the auspices of Moscow's third biennial Festival of Fashion and Style in Photographs (Moda i Stil v Fotografii), but features a great deal of Newton's portrait photography as well as his fashion shots. Newton and his wife June made several public appearances - including two receptions and at a master class hosted by Newton - all of which were crowded by members of the press, local artists, well-wishers and fans.
The 82-year-old photographer was in town this week for the first time in more than a decade to launch a retrospective of his work - scheduled to run until May 31 on three floors of the Moscow House of Photography.
The Russian beau monde experienced a collective thrill this week when Helmut Newton arrived in town for several days of events, including a master class and the opening of a retrospective of his work.
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