Description

On March 24, 2005, after sporadic opposition protests and minor clashes with government supporters, demonstrators overrann riot police and stormed the Presidential Palace Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, ousting the Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev in what became known as the “Tulip Revolution”.

Magnum photographer Thomas Dworzak covered the events. Though he photographed the dramatic scenes of revolution, the picture that holds most resonance for him was one taken the following day. The photograph shows the smashed window of a beauty parlor in Bishkek; the bullet holes are juxtaposed with a poster underneath that shows pouting red lips. “I like the second degree a little bit,” says Dworzak. “I had the straight-news pictures of people jumping up and down on the ousted president’s chair. I’d covered the real event properly and classically. But in a way that gave me the right to play around and do something else.”

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 2005.

Get Magnum news and updates directly to your inbox

Stay in touch
Monthly updates on the latest assignments, photographer projects and collaborations with brands.
Know when our quarterly 7-day square print sale is coming.
Learn about online and offline exhibitions, photography fairs, gallery events, plus fine print news and activities, on a monthly basis.
Get fortnightly tips and advice articles, find out about the latest workshops, free online events and on-demand courses.
Be the first to know about recent Magnum Shop drops. From new books and limited editions, to special offers, you can find it all on the weekly Magnum Shop newsletter.
Stay up to date every Thursday with Magnum photographers’ activities, new work, stories published on the Magnum website, and the latest offerings from our shop.