2014/09/21
2014/08/22
2014/07/26
2014/06/20
2014/06/17
2014/02/19
Gursky Exhibit at the National Museum of Art, Osaka
Yesterday, thanks to a free ticket given to me by a friend, I had the chance to visit the Andreas Gursky exhibit. Known as the maker of the highest selling print, I was impressed, yet a little disappointed at the same time.
Of course, he is a very talented photographer. My favorite three are probably Untitled XIII (2002), Beijing (2010) and F1 Pit Stop IV (2007). Untitled XIII shows a landfill with plastic bags flying in the wind above. Had there been no flying bags, I doubt the image would have been as strong, as they look like angels fleeing the garbage of the Earth below. A very powerful image in my mind.
I like Beijing because I'm a fan of architectural photography, and it showcases a large triangle in the middle, a favorite subject of mine recently. He desaturated most the picture, except for some red on the left side. This reinforces the composition, adding a very graphic sense to the composition.
As for F1 Pit Stop IV, what attracts me to the pictures are two race queens, one which may be a transvestite. They may have been photoshopped in, as Gursky does not shy away from using editing software to enhance his pictures. If it is indeed a transvestite, it certainly adds a bit of humor, considering how manly race car driving is.
The one thing that did disappoint me, though, was reading about him in the book of the exhibition. Part of his success apparently resides in the fact that his prints are very big. From that point of view, is success of a photographer only dependent on the size of the prints? If so, the art world is in a bad state; otherwise, it seems quite reductionist considering his talent.
All in all, though, I was very happy to have gone to the exhibit. It is worth going on weekdays if you have the chance to avoid crowds and really have time to let the images sink in. As most pictures are huge, it is worth staying for each a few minutes, moving back and forth and changing points of view.
Partly inspired by his work, perhaps, here are two shots I took yesterday. Large size, of course! ;o)
All rights reserved, 2014
Of course, he is a very talented photographer. My favorite three are probably Untitled XIII (2002), Beijing (2010) and F1 Pit Stop IV (2007). Untitled XIII shows a landfill with plastic bags flying in the wind above. Had there been no flying bags, I doubt the image would have been as strong, as they look like angels fleeing the garbage of the Earth below. A very powerful image in my mind.
I like Beijing because I'm a fan of architectural photography, and it showcases a large triangle in the middle, a favorite subject of mine recently. He desaturated most the picture, except for some red on the left side. This reinforces the composition, adding a very graphic sense to the composition.
As for F1 Pit Stop IV, what attracts me to the pictures are two race queens, one which may be a transvestite. They may have been photoshopped in, as Gursky does not shy away from using editing software to enhance his pictures. If it is indeed a transvestite, it certainly adds a bit of humor, considering how manly race car driving is.
The one thing that did disappoint me, though, was reading about him in the book of the exhibition. Part of his success apparently resides in the fact that his prints are very big. From that point of view, is success of a photographer only dependent on the size of the prints? If so, the art world is in a bad state; otherwise, it seems quite reductionist considering his talent.
All in all, though, I was very happy to have gone to the exhibit. It is worth going on weekdays if you have the chance to avoid crowds and really have time to let the images sink in. As most pictures are huge, it is worth staying for each a few minutes, moving back and forth and changing points of view.
Partly inspired by his work, perhaps, here are two shots I took yesterday. Large size, of course! ;o)
All rights reserved, 2014
2014/02/15
PR-y: Cornerstone to Distortion
Thank you Maya for getting in touch with me to obtain a copy of the Cornerstone, and a bigger thank you as she waited for my reply over 4 months (I haven't blogged in a loooong time) and was still interested.In the meantime, Distortion was recently released. Rob Walbers is the sole photographer for this one, and it features the artists of Atelier Yamanami in Shiga prefecture. It's available in selected stores in Osaka, and by mail order too. Check this link out if you are interested, the book is really beautiful.
Triangular: Recent Iterations
I haven&t blogged in months. No excuses, really. Who know when I'll blog next? Nobody knows. Particle Man.
All rights reserved 2014
All rights reserved 2014
2013/08/02
Pecha Kucha Osaka vol.2
Mark your calenders, I will participate in the Pecha Kucha Night Osaka vol.2 on Saturday August 31st at Trois Dix organic restaurant in Kitahorie, Osaka. I will discuss photo documentary from my point of view, with a strong emphasis on the PR-y project. I'll do my best to be entertaining, informative, funny and not a complete embarrassment to humanity. Get there early as there is only 100 seated space, and these events tend to fill up pretty quickly. I don't know yet who the other presenters will be, but I'm sure they'll be rather entertaining (check this previous post for a hint of what to expect).
Pecha Kucha nights were started 10 years ago in Tokyo (not all is bad there...) and consist of presentations by people from various backgrounds, usually related to design in one way or another. The format is fairly strict, though: we must show 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds, making everyone's presentation last 6:40. Since its inception, the concept has traveled all around the world, with events taking place in over 600 cities. They are a great chance to "think and drink" as the creators say.
Hope to see you here in Osaka!
Pecha Kucha nights were started 10 years ago in Tokyo (not all is bad there...) and consist of presentations by people from various backgrounds, usually related to design in one way or another. The format is fairly strict, though: we must show 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds, making everyone's presentation last 6:40. Since its inception, the concept has traveled all around the world, with events taking place in over 600 cities. They are a great chance to "think and drink" as the creators say.
Hope to see you here in Osaka!
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