Being Kazimir Malevich

Abstract

This thesis examines a profound moment in front of a series of paintings by the Russian painter, Kazimir Malevich at the State Russian Museum. It identifies the Malevich encounter as a camera-less photographic moment which expands our understanding of photography and the theoretical concepts; punctum and aura. A new understanding of the terms punctum and aura develops, that shows that these are not equivalent terms but instead, are in a reciprocal relationship to photographic exposure.