I really enjoy capturing special moments with my camera, either for art projects or in everyday life, but I am not a huge fan of going to photography exhibitions. I tend to find them boring and less interesting than painting exhibitions for example where I find it easier to understand the artists intentions and messages, connect with his and thus with his artworks. But I recently visited ‘The Photographers’ Gallery” an exhibition that I genuinely enjoyed and recommend.
The Factory Photographs, exhibition by David Lynch:
I Love Industry pipes, I love fluid and smoke. I love man-made things. I like to se people hard at work, and I like to see sludge and man-made waste. David Lynch
This quote by the artist of the exhibition, David Lynch, gives a short definition of what is expected to be seen in his photography. His exhibition features 90 black an white images in England, Berlin. Poland, New York, and New Jersey between 1980 and 2000. Focusing on obsolete but richly atmospheric, post-industrial architecture spaces, this series depicts relics of a lost world, factories once proud emblems of progress, now deserted and being reclaimed by nature.
Lynch’s passion for the dark, the apical and the mysterious themes, emanates from this body of work that captures uninhabited locations with a poetic and even romantic aura. Highly subjective, the imagery resembles dream-like sequences that have both enigmatic and ominous qualities.
Maybe one of the reasons why I haven’t been the biggest fan of photography exhibitions is because I sometimes find it hard to connect with the photographs and more importantly, connect each photograph to the other. I like works of art to have a sequence and one to follow the other. In that way, I have the opportunity to create a narrative in my mind, and become a part of it. This exhibition allowed me to do exactly that, even though I did not actually connect with the ‘broken glasses’ and the ‘old walls’ that were featured in the photographs, I understood the angle of the artist, his purpose and the messages he meant to convey, and connected the photos together.
What is of great importance in my opinion, is the way the exhibition has been put together and presented. I am very organised myself, and I like everything to be presented in a simple and ‘clean’ way. For that reason, I really like the fact that the artist has used black frames for his o pictures, that all have the approximate size. Also, black and white is used throughout the exhibition, making the photographs clear, the details more dramatic and the exhibition coherent.
One can ask: What is so important about old pipes, destroyed walls, broken glasses and abandoned spaces? Well, many people will say that nothing is interesting about that. And others, that might disagree may have a number of different answers. But in my opinion, what makes a great artist is discovering art in everyday objects. David Lynch has managed to capture the beauty of these everyday objects. Shooting in old industrial spaces, he manages to find what is unique and present it as art. He takes the unimportant elements and gives them power, significance and meaning. In that way, his work exudes a unique, cinematic style through dark, brooding images.
If you are a big fan of photography (or not) you should definitely try and make some time to visit this exhibition by David Lynch, at the Photographers’ Gallery. Its not only amazing, it is free as well. If you are interested in more information about The Photographers’ Gallery, visit their website: http://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/home
Well, I’m obliged to admit that I enjoyed your report of the exhibition more than I did the photos themselves. 😀 But I’m prepared to accept your word that they are pleasing, as I am so much in sympathy with you regarding Gormley …
Thank you for your comment! I think that viewing the exhibition and the photography up close will better than viewing them online
Awesome post! I know exactly what you mean when you say you have a difficult time connecting to most photography…I stumble across photographers I can really connect with here and there though. If I was in the area, I would go check it out!
Thank you for your comment! 🙂
Glad you posted this and stoked it’s in London. Might try get down there tomorrow.
Thats great to hear! There are a couple of exhibitions at the moment that you could see at the photographers’ gallery!
Nice! I saw the BP photography awards at National Portrait Gallery the other day have you been?
Not yet! But I am planning to! Did you like it?
Yeah there was a few interesting pics, as usual I never understand why the judges pic the winners they do. I guess educated eyes look for merit differently.
Oh okay! Is will visit it and make a review post pretty soon! Thank you for the information. Best, Elli
Welcome
I went to the photographers gallery yesterday. Saw some interesting exhibits from warhol and william burroughs, learned some things. 🙂
looks like an interesting exhibition must make a note of David Lynch. I have to admit to liking this sort of photo, These places were people’s lives and are fast going.
Thanks for your comment! Glad you liked it
The photographs are wonderful…urban and alive. They capture a moment in time that can never exist again…the time in the city or an area where the photographs were taken, that is now and forever alive in black and white. Excellent.
Thank you!
Nice B & W photos..too far to see offline at this time. Only reason to go on IH.
Thanks for commenting!
Your review of this exhibition is excellently written, and truly pays homage to a great artist / photographer / director … Like you, I love the “clean” scenography ! Thanks a lot for following my blog, published in France !
Thank you very much for your comment! Best, Elli
Thanks for the guided tour of the exhibition. I like the bleak grandeur of urban decay, which is odd for a country dweller. Thanks for the follow too.
Thank you! Glad you liked it! Best, Elli
Love the pipes exhibit.
Thank you 🙂
Looks like you’ve found a lot of photography fans following your blog! I liked your review too. Nicola
Thank you! Gave me motivation so i visited a couple of photography exhibitions during the weekend for future posts 🙂
I have often said that art that reflect heavy industry is grossly underproduced and underappreciated. It’s important and I love it.
The Hammer Home Street Photography Project is my largest photography project to date, and I’ve made sure that exploring and shooting the heavy industrial sectors of Hamilton is included. In fact, I’m currently putting a photo essay on Hamilton’s industrial sectors together as part of the overall project.