Sixties. Era of high heels, mini-skirts and X-ray Sound records. Many things that become popular in those times are steel popular nowadays. Symbol of the epoch is Liverpool band The Beatles: suits, mop-top haircuts, the crazy fans crowd, and the birth of rock 'n' roll. M17 Contemporary Art Center presents 50 photographs of The Early Beatles, by their close friend and personal Hamburg photographer - Astrid Kirchherr. Among them - the unique photographs, that have never been exhibited before.

This collection of photographs is one of the most important photographic records of mass culture in 20th century. Astrid Kirchherr caught by her camera the birth of a cataclysmic youth movement in intimately linked with The Beatles, has become their friend and helper.  Before her eyes the members of the group transition from unknown to famous, from innocent to wise, from boys to men. They have been together at the right time and at the right place and they have created the history of a magic era.

A collection of The Early Beatles photographs by Astrid Kirchherr a lot of covers in one package: a rich treasure, a milestone cut, social records, a book of remembrance of times and people. It is also a reminder of how important is the individual in the creation of art and the production of something meaningful and real.

Project director Natalia Shpitkovskaya