An archive that remained in the shadows for decades finally takes shape in Shanghai. Unseen Work, the major exhibition dedicated to Vivian Maier, presents over 200 images, including vintage and modern prints, alongside unseen footage and personal objects that reveal the complexity of one of the most enigmatic figures in 20th-century photography. Born in New York and raised in France, Maier, employed as a nanny all her life, while quietly building a body of over 150.000 photographs. She roamed the streets of American cities and, through her numerous travels, urban environments across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Her precise and empathetic gaze captures fragments of everyday life - often on the margins - transforming them into images rich in humanity and visual tension. Structured around thematic sections, the exhibition highlights her ability to move between documentation and introspection: from self-portraits reflected in shop windows and mirrors to urban scenes marked by stark contrasts and rigorous compositions. A deeply personal visual language, developed from the spotlight, now emerges with striking contemporary relevance.
