Last weekend we went to the opening of the Jan Van Holleben show at Marcia Wood Gallery. I was especially interested in his "Dreams of Flying" series becuase it seemed so cute and playful. Indeed, the photos on exhibit were cute and playful. But then I found (via Burn Away) these pictures on his website, they are pictures inspired by his pictures. I really like the homemade-ness, the amateur-ness of the amateur photos, and find them even more charming than Van Holleben's.
While at Marcia Wood we also so "Sadie's Choice," Peter Bahouth's stereoscopic photo series of sexy ladies, presented for viewing as slides in little viewers. I really liked several of the pictures and also really enjoyed the effect of the audience stooping down to peer into the viewers, which, as Mark pointed out, were just a little too low (even for me), creating the effect of peeping in on someone. However, I would have liked for there to have been a more cohesive theme. While there were sexy ladies in all the pictures, I had hoped that there would be more of a storyline or something. But all together a very nice show. And here's an uninteresting story about my interaction with the artist: While I was peeping in on a lady, the artist suggested to me that I may be able to see the photographs without my glasses. I tried and it was just as blurry as everything is when I'm not wearing my glasses.
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Yeah, I got a kick out of that peeping effect too - I guess it's a feeling that makes sense, since the technology was first used for porn!
ReplyDeleteApparently Bahouth gave each of his models complete control over the location, props, and angles of their shoots - that might account for the overall disjointedness of the show.
(I think that Joyce is writing a review of Bahouth's show as well - look for it at BA sometime next week.)
Hey Leigh... sorry for the bad eyeglasses advice. It can be quirky presenting stereoscopic images to the public. I've also learned that a percentage of the population can't see in 3D in normal life. My ex girlfriend was tested and she couldn't. Made for each other I guess.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Ben is right. As part of a larger project revisiting 50's era uses of stereoscopic photography, "Sadie's Choice" gives a nod to "glamour" or pinup stereo photography but takes a stab at equalizing the power imbalance by having the models choose their basic treatment...
Thanks for coming and reviewing...
Best, Peter
No need to be sorry Peter! Because I am nearsighted, I can see objects close to my with pretty good detail, but far away everything gets fuzzy. Though I knew the pictures were quite close to my face, they still appeared as fuzzy as they would at a distance. It emphasized the 3-D-ness of your work, as opposed to say, a 2-D picture of a mountain in the distance versus an actual mountain in the distance. I found it very interesting and have been thinking about this effect for a while since. Thanks for the comments and keep up the good work!
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