Influenced by our environment

Charles Johnstone

Little Red Car, 2006

 

© Charles Johnstone

Kunsthandel Jörg Maaß
Rankestr. 24
10789 Berlin
Germany

13 Nov - 22 Dec 2009 

 Johnstone intentionally leaves people out of his photographs.  We are forced to form our own opinions of Havana from his series based on environmental factors.  I am attracted to this photograph because of the very boxy, aquatic blue architectural building in the background with  harsh shadows.  It juxtaposes well with the petite, rounded, bright red car parked in front of it.  Those composition choices nearly give the little red car a personality, one which I will probably continue to think about and dream about tonight in my sleep.  

Silvia Noferi 

Moments de la photographie contemporaine italienne II

Centre d'art Nei Liicht
Galeries Dudelange
25, rue Dominique Lang
3401 Dudelange
Luxembourg

31 Oct - 05 Dec 2009 

Nofari's imagery was chosen for this contemporary Italian photographic exhibition because of her artistic and political thought in the midst of current Italian culture.  This image provides such mystery and at the same time is so deep with understanding.  Even though we may not be able to see the model's face, her posture in the chair provides an 'drunk with thought' body language.  She gazes into the sunlight that floods in from the door in front of her.  What beauty and somberness.  The room that she sits in only enhances this drunken thoughtfulness.  Mmm, mystery and narration.

Kader Attia

Rochers Carrés, 2009 

© Courtesy Kader Attia and Christian Nagel Gallery

8th Bamako Encounters, Biennial of African Photography- Borders

Maison Africaine de la Photographie
Direction des Rencontres africaines de la photographie de Bamako
Bibliothèque nationale, Zone ACI 2000
BP 4075 Bamako
Mali 

November 7 through December 7, 2009

What a wonderful composition and choice of scenery.  There is a contemplation and distance in the model's body language.  Similar to Nofari's image, I enjoy how much the body plays the role in emotional capacity without relying on facial expressions.  And plus, those sculptural elements he is sitting on do the composition and photo some justice.