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Japanese Theatre in Highlight: A Pictorial Commentary
Francis Haar born as Haár Ferenc (19 July 1908 – 22 December 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.
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 the photography is more than the painting and can access to such 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 sports people from all over the world besides the Japanese.
Accepting a challenge he moved and worked as 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 1965 and 1985. 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.
Awards
1933, 1935 First Prize, National Photo Contest, Budapest
1959 First Prize, Metropolitan Improvement Photo Contest, Chicago
Golden Eagle Award for Pineapple Country Hawai'i, C.I.N.E., Washington D.C.
Photographic Award, Educational Perspectives Magazine, University of Hawai'i
Gift Print Award, Arts Council of Hawai'i
Living Treasure of Hawai'i, Honpa Hongwanji and the Hawai'i State Legislature
Lifetime Achievement Award, Hungarian Photographic Society
Books
Way to Orient Arts Publishing Company, Tokyo, 1940
Hungarian Picture Book Benrido Publishing Company, Kyoto, 1941
Around Mount Fuji Benrido Publishing Company, Kyoto, 1942
The Best of Old Japan Charles Tuttle Company, Tokyo, 1951
Japanese Theatre in Highlights Charles Tuttle Company, Tokyo, 1951
Mermaids of Japan Kanabeshobo Company, Tokyo, 1954
Geisha of Pontocho by P.D. Perkins. Photographs by Francis Haar. Tokyo News Service, 1954
The world of dew : aspects of living Japan by D.J. Enright.Photographs by Francis Haar. Secker & Warburg, 1955
Tokyo You Should See Charles Tuttle Company, Tokyo, 1960
Foto Haár Ferenc Corvina Publishing Company, Budapest, 1969
Legends of Hawai'i Victoria Publishers, Honolulu, 1972
Artists of Hawai'i Vol. 1 University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, 1974
Artists of Hawai'i Vol. 2 University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, 1977
Iolani Luahine Topgallant Publishing, Honolulu, 1985, ISBN 978-0-914916-69-7
A Zen Life: D. T. Suzuki Remembered (edited by Masao Abe) Paperback, Weatherhill, 1986, ISBN 978-0-8348-0213-1
Haár Ferenc Magyarországi Képei: út a Munka-Körtől a Zen-Buddhizmusig (co-authors: Magdolna Kolta and Ferenc Király), Publisher Magyar Fotográfiai Múzeum Kecskemét, 2004, ISBN 978-963-8383-43-3
Exhibitions
1940, 1941 • Shirokiya Department Store's 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
1967 • 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 (in Hungarian)
2009 • Haár Ferenc - Mineko Orisaku Photo Exhibition, Tokyo, Tokyu Department Store (courtesy of Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Japan)
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 • Artist of Hawai'i, Bicentennial Commission and Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Honolulu
