MagnumTime interview with Harry Gruyaert

Harry Gruyaert

Photographer (Member of Magnum Photos since 1981)

“For example, I did my first important work about television (which became the show, TV Shots, and a book published by Steidl in 2007).

Living in London in 1972, I discovered the power of colour television, which was much more important than in the rest of Europe.

I had this incredible tv set with which I could create fascinating colours, just playing with the antenna and the wires.

The structure of the screen (PAL system) was to me much more interesting than what it is now. I discovered what a brain washing machine it could be; pretty chauvinistic and linked to advertising .

I felt you could make a portrait of a country, in this case England, by photographing the BBC and ITV.

So, apparently, when I joined Magnum, I showed the work and some photographers did not get it. I tried nominee status the same year as Abbas, and they told me later they never took on two photographers with such different interests.”

MagnumTime interview in Cairo, Egypt 2012