DCTs and Scenes from the Blackout
This exhibition from the gallery David Zwirner, locates on 525 West 19th Street, N.Y., shooted by San Douglas. This a fabricated photograph, which means all the elements in the photo is set up for some purpose. The setting looks like a blocked space, could be an elevator in the 80s, 90s. The photo is taking in a dark place, the only light comes from the candle, shows in red color. The reflection of the light lands on the left side of the lattice, the central candle, and the right side wooden wall. All these three points links as “line”. Photo taking from a birds view angle, and the candle is the only light source, that’s the first element catch attention. A candle in a dark room, this represents in the past when the city was out of power, people use the candle to get light sources. I think this is the photographer try to remind people.
Home Away from Home
Photographer Taysir Batniji shot the gallery Aperture/Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, 2018, locates on 547 West 27th Street, N.Y. Home Away from Home is a series family and daily-life style photos. All photo are taking from an eye level view which a bright light, mostly outdoor, and natural feeling. Nothing is fabricated or set up. Photos are full of daily lives feeling with a depth of field to show the main object- the people. Some subjects might be people, some might be landscape or a store in his old memory. The photographer is trying to bring up a thinking of meaning about “home.” I think he is try to recall people’s memory about home; which can be something that we never pay attention, but it’s also essential. As a immigration, he chooses to show “home” with his daily life to tell people about belonging when it comes to a new identity, and also want people to think about “what does home mean to you.”
Fra Angelico / Opus Operantis
Exhibition from Paul Kasmin Gallery, by Robert Polidori. Located at 297 Tenth Ave, NY. The photos all taken from a low-level view. All have a looking up feeling show the faithful to the Christ. Also, photos are shot in a room with natural daylights in multi-level frames. The main subjects are the paintings, to shot them in a frame brings a message of the Christ has the loyalty faith, the most respect and unforgettable position in people’s heart. In addition, photos all showing in a “frames on the wall,” blank/ single color frames or wall has a big contrast with the colorful painting. This helps the content of the drawing more plug up to people’s eyes. Also, frames on the wall is a way for people to commemorate, so I think, this is a way to call back people’s memory about how Christ supported people to overcome all the obstacles, during Renaissance period.
The Stan Douglas series imagines a future blackout in the city. the photo you mention is set up and lit to look like candle light. Try taking a photo of a room lit by one candle and you will see right away how little light it gives off.
In the exhibit, Home Away from Home, as you state, these are photos of people doing ordinary things. But all of these people are Palestinians in exile. They are living in the US because they must. They can’t go home. I think this is important to an understanding of this exhibit.
I am not sure what you mean by a low level view. These photos are not shot from a low angle so maybe you mean something else? The Robert Polidori photos while be of a monastery are actually not religious. He is an architectural photographer who photographs amazing places.