Francis Haar born as Haár Ferenc (July 19, 1908 – December 22, 1997) was a Hungarian socio-photographer. He studied interior architecture at Hungarian Royal National School of Arts and Crafts between 1924 and 1927. His master was Gyula Kaesz.
Life and career
He started working as an interior architect and poster designer in 1928, and taught himself photography. In 1930 he became acquainted with Munka-kör (Work Circle) led by socialist avant-garde poet and visual artist Lajos Kassák, who just returned from Vienna. Kassák pointed out that photography is more than painting and can access such a part of reality that cannot be accessed by painters. Kassák's motto was photography is the real child of our age, not the painting. That was a lifelong inspiration to Francis. He became an active and leading member of the Munka Kör, his partners in socio-photography were among others Sándor Gönci, Árpád Szélpál and Lajos Lengyel, who later became renowned graphic artist and book designer. The first socio photo exhibition ever in Hungary was held in 1932, which brought the first success to Francis. His first photo studio was opened in Budapest in 1934.
However, in 1939 he was invited by Hiroshi Kawazoe to Japan and the International Cultural Society of Japan (Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai) officially arranged his trip. With help of Japanese friends he opened and operated his photo studio in Tokyo between 1940 and 42. The Haar family was evacuated to Karuizawa in 1943 and they spent 3 years there. He became the photographer of Yank, the Army Weekly magazine of the U.S. occupation forces in Japan, and subsequently filmmaker with U.S. Public Health and Welfare Section (1946–48). Again his Tokyo photo studio was opened in 1946 and was in active business until 1956. His wife Irene opened the famous restaurant Irene's Hungaria in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, which was frequented by celebrities, intellectuals, army men and sportspeople from all over the world besides the Japanese.
Accepting a challenge he moved and worked as a photographer for the Container Corporation of America, Chicago from 1956 until 1959. He returned to Tokyo and operated his photo studio again for a year.
1960 brought a great decision and the Haars moved to Hawai'i and Francis started his photo studio there. He taught photography at the University of Hawai'i between 1964 and 1974. He became the production photographer for the Kennedy Theater, the University of Hawai'i Drama Department.
Francis Haar died at the age of 89 in Honolulu.
References
Francis Haar – A Lifetime of Images (edited by Tom Haar). University of Hawaii Press, 2001. ISBN978-0-8248-2449-5
A Zen Life: D. T. Suzuki Remembered (edited by Masao Abe) Paperback, Weatherhill, 1986, ISBN978-0-8348-0213-1
Francis Haar: A Lifetime of Images (edited by Tom Haar) Hardback, University of Hawaii Press, 2001, ISBN9780824824495
Haár Ferenc Magyarországi Képei: út a Munka-Körtől a Zen-Buddhizmusig (co-authors: Magdolna Kolta and Ferenc Király), Magyar Fotográfiai Múzeum, Kecskemét, 2004 ISBN978-963-8383-43-3
Exhibitions
1940, 1941 • Shirokiya Department Store Gallery, Tokyo
1949 • American Cultural Center, Tokyo
1952 • Haar Photo Studio, Kamakura, Japan
1957 • Chicago Public Library
1958 • University of Chicago
1962 • Honolulu Public Library
1963 • Art Department University of Hawai'i
1968 • Unitarian Church Gallery, Honolulu
1969 • Graphic Gallery, Honolulu Academy of Arts
1972 • Helikon Galéria, Budapest
1972 • Princess Kaiulani Hotel, Honolulu
1973 • American Savings and Loan Art Gallery, Honolulu
1975 • Kennedy Theatre, University of Hawai'i
1983 • Focus Gallery, Honolulu Academy of Arts
1989 • Fotóművészeti Galéria, Budapest
1990 • Graphics Gallery, Honolulu Academy of Arts
1991 • Budapest Galéria, Budapest
1991 • Gallery Saka, Tokyo
2003 • Retrospective – Hungarian Museum of Photography, Kecskemét
2004 • Photos of Francis Haar, 1930–1980, Kassák Museum, Budapest
2009 • Haár Ferenc & Mineko Orisaku Photo Exhibition, Tokyu Department Store (courtesy of Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Japan)
2019 • "Francis Haar: Disappearing Honolulu". John Young Museum of Art, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Documentary films
1948 • Hamajo Fishing Village, Palmer Pictures
1950 • Picturesque Japan, Japan Travel Bureau
1951 • Students Today – Japan's Tomorrow , Australian Mission, Tokyo
1953 • Arts of Japan, U.S. Information Agency, Tokyo
1954 • Awakening, Sophia University, Tokyo
1955 • Japanese Calligraphy, Belgian Education Ministry
1959 • Ukiyoe – Prints of Japan, Art Institute of Chicago
1959 • Juvenile Delinquency in Chicago, Chicago Public Television
1961 • Hula Ho'olaulea – Traditional Dances of Hawai'i, Honolulu Academy of Arts
1962 • Pineapple Country Hawai'i, Pineapple Growers Association, Honolulu
1963 • The Other Language, AID Far East Training Center, Hawai'i
1964 • Tenno – Symbol and Myth, Asuka Production with Fuji Television Company, Tokyo
1966 • Hawaii's Asian Heritage', Island Films Production, Honolulu
1968 • Aala – Life and Death of a Community, B.B.H. Productions, Honolulu
1976 • Artists of Hawai'i, Bicentennial Commission and Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Honolulu