Beryl Chen – a Deferred Revolution

Beryl Chen - a Deferred Revolution

1953. The young Swiss photographer René Groebli visits London. Soon he will be off to other foreign lands to cover wars for the Blackstar photo agency. But right now he's in the mood to explore the allure of a storied metropolis slowly emerging from post-war paralysis. With a large appetite for adventure but short on cash, he happens upon a small Jamaican dancehall where the music is loud and the beer is cheap.

In the midst of the undulating throng he meets Beryl Chen, a young woman recently arrived in London. Just one of a whole generation of immigrants seeking prosperity in the wake of a devastating conflict, Beryl Chen's hopes and dreams inspire the photographer. A scenario forms in his head, chronicled in black and white images. Chen agrees to be photographed for this mix of reportage and artful storytelling, an attempt by Groebli to document her new life in this big, cold city. With his Leica in hand he captures this made-up tale of a day in the life of Beryl Chen, a process that lasts a few short days with her dingy East End apartment, a photography studio and nocturnal London serving as the backdrop. Shortly after the shoot, the young photographer is off to new adventures while Chen stays behind, her vision of a better future undiminished. They would never meet again.

1954. Back in Zurich and energized by the making of his seminal photo book "Das Auge der Liebe", Groebli remembers the images he took in London. Together with graphic designer Werner Zryd, they start working on a layout for the book "Beryl Chen." It is a striking, idiosyncratic work with an accent on the cinematic language, juxtaposing wide shots and more intimate closeups and a visual style that mirrors the neorealism of Rossellini and De Sica. The layout boldly breaks open the confines of the white page and turns the narrative into a distinct and artistic statement, one that defies the traditional look of photo books of that era. But this revolution gets deferred. The book dummy gets lost in Groebli's studio while the photographer gets busy with other work.

2009. Cleaning out his drawers, Groebli discovers his old maquette and takes a fresh approach, inviting writer Téo Schlachter to add some short descriptions to the images, allowing the viewer to travel back to this bygone era. But yet again, the result ends up in another alcove of Groebli's studio.

2014. Preparing a new edition of his masterly "Das Auge der Liebe" for its 60th anniversary reissue he remembers "Beryl Chen" and shows me the book dummy. I am immediately taken by the book and its innovative narrative. After a more than 60-year hiatus, "Beryl Chen" is finally ready for her closeup.

Reto Caduff, Publisher

Published in: Beryl Chen: A Jamaican Girl – photographed by René Groebli. Sturm & Drang Publishers 2015, First Edition, Limited to 800 copies.