Albert Kahn and his wonderful world
www.albertkahn.co.uk
Enthusiasts for Albert Kahn, autochrome photography and the BBC series The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn will be delighted to learn that there is now a BBC website devoted to Kahn. Its prime purpose is to promote the new book The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn: Colour Photographs from a Lost Age, by David Okuefuna (published 24 April), but it also has a selection of autochrome images, linked to a map of the world (courtesy of Flickr), a biography of Kahn and information on the Musée Albert-Kahn in Paris. The latter section refers to DVDs, implying that these come out of the BBC/ Musée Albert-Kahn collaboration. There is no further information given. My understanding has been is that there were no plans for a DVD release of the series, but that the museum might be releasing its own DVDs. I’ll try to find out more.
Further information on Albert Kahn, including a more extensive set of links with information on autochromes in general and the films taken as part of his ‘Archives of Planet’ project can be found on the Searching for Albert Kahn post on this site.
June 14, 2008 at 6:54 am
The collaboration between BBC and the Musee produced the most wonderful programme I have seen. Unfortunately, in Sydney it was shown at 3.00 in the afternoon. A DVD should really be made of this series, I honestly believe there will be a demand for the DVD’s. Erin. Sydney
June 14, 2008 at 7:59 am
The demand is certainly there, and the television series has been really popular here in the UK, moving from the minority arts channel BBC4 to BBC2 and then repeated, but it seems there are licensing issues which have prevented a DVD release. It may be that the Musée Albert Kahn has its own DVD plans, and doesn’t want the BBC programmes to interfere with these. I’m hopeful of a bit more information when the Musée re-opens on 17 June with a new exhibition on India using its Autochrome collection.
July 19, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I thought the television series was amazing - I cancelled all outings and sat transfixed each Saturday afternoon [heaven help those who interrupted]. I would love to have a copy of the series as unfortunately I missed the first episode. Here’s hoping either a DVD is created or that SBS chooses to replay the series very soon.