New York - June 11, 2024: The Museum of Art and History of Judaism (known as "The mahJ"), located in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, just launched a new exhibition in conjunction with the Paris Olympic Games. Running through May 16 to September 22, 2024, the exhibition, André Steiner. The Body: From Desire to Transcendence, features works by the Hungarian photographer André Steiner, a pioneer of the “New Vision,” who expressed his talent by capturing athletic bodies in motion in Paris in the 1930s. The exhibition is organized as part of the Cultural Olympiad, for which many Parisian museums have conceived special projects to accompany the Games.

Culture has always been an important aspect of the Games; from 1912 to 1948, five artistic disciplines were even included in the competitions: literature, painting, music, sculpture and architecture. In 1992, the Cultural Olympiad became an official part of the International Olympic Committee for all host countries. At Paris 2024, culture will take the form of the Cultural Olympiad, a multi-disciplinary artistic and cultural program that explores the link between art and sports across all of France seen through nearly 2,000 events, including performances, exhibitions, workshops and more.

Born in Hungary in 1901, André Steiner was one of the very first users of a Leica in 1924, which he had been given as part of his scientific training at the prestigious Technische Universität in Vienna. He first entered the world of photography thanks to his passion for his young fiancée and for his love of sports, both of which he captured on film.

His modern experimentation with the medium made him one of the proponents of the German “New Vision” aesthetic, which he helped to spread in France. A decathlon champion at the World University Games in 1928 and a swimming coach in Vienna, Steiner focused on sports photography when he arrived in Paris, which at the time was not common. He became a specialist in capturing bodies in movement and in the nude. In the 1930s, Steiner photographed sports and dance for VU, helping to establish the magazine's distinctive style.

A number of events will be taking place at The mahJ in conjunction with the exhibition, including the following:

• Jews et Boxers (June 19): Talk with Michael Cohen, former French kickboxing champion, and Jean-Philippe Lustyk, journalist specializing in English boxing, discussing how French Jews have been involved in combat sports since the second half of the 20th century.
• Dancing at the mahJ (June 16): In the morning, a “Dances from Israel” class will be held showcasing traditional and modern group dances; and in the afternoon, dancers of all ages can participate in a class combining contemporary dance with circus arts, juggling, balancing and acrobatics.
• Feldenkrais Method workshop and guided tour (June 23): Dancer Rozenn Jacon, along with mahJ lecturer Cécile Petitet, will complement the regular exhibition tour with a sensory exploration of each person's movements, using the Feldenkrais method, which awakens the body and consciousness to new ways of discovering art.
• Cliché! The photographer's apprentice (July 10): Children will use a camera to create their own original versions of André Steiner's images.

Find more details about the exhibition here: https://www.mahj.org/en/programme/andre-steiner-bodydesire-transcendence-30897. 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY OF JUDAISM:

Located in the magnificent 17th-century Hôtel de Saint-Aignan in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme - known as "mahJ") is one of the leading history and art museums in Paris. Since its opening in 1998, the mahJ has been devoted to showcasing major artworks from influential Jewish artists and sharing the history of Judaism in France, as well as throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. The mahJ collection comprises more than 12,000 works from antiquity to the present day and a wealth of archival materials. The museum also provides a number of educational programs to younger generations on Jewish art and culture, and hosts a variety of events and activities for all ages throughout the year.