Thursday, June 25, 2009

“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary” - Aaron Rose

Untitled, from The Counterpane Series, 2009

Last week I promised I'd show you some of my work from the group exhibition 6 Perspectives on Light. The show opened last Thursday night and runs until the 2nd of July so today is the halfway point. So far its been a wonderful experience seeing my work up on the wall and hearing peoples reactions to it. The show was opened by Cork artist Harry Moore, and it was great to see everyone who came. Of course it wouldn't have been half as wonderful without my fellow artists and their wonderful work. I must apologise that I was so organised that I framed my photos before I scanned them so I don't have many to show you here! I exhibited 12 black and white silver gelatin prints (Limited Edition of 12) called 'The Counterpane Series'.



When I became ill a few years ago my life suddenly became very small and time slowed down. The movement of light throughout the house began to mark time for me. The constantly changing shapes of the highlights and shadows separated one hour from another. After months of looking at the same rooms I began to notice light transforming the ordinary, dull, mundane objects and spaces of my life…a shaft of light falling on a bookcase, the shapes formed by the wrinkles in my bedclothes, the shadow of a plant on my window ledge. These moments didn’t last nor were they ever the same two days in a row. They moved and changed with the light and seasons, adding variety and interest to my days. Photography gave me a way to record these precious fleeting moments and award them the importance they have had in my life. My photography is about ordinary everyday objects transformed by light into objects of extraordinary beauty.


The title of the series is inspired by a childhood poem called “The Land of Counterpane” by Robert Louis Stevenson, about a little boy who is sick in bed imagining the dips and folds of his quilt are a land for his toy soldiers. It has stuck with me as a story of imagination distracting and overcoming the isolation, boredom and pain of illness.


The Land of Counterpane


By Robert Louis Stevenson


When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.


And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;


And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.


I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.



6 Perspectives on Light continues in The Greenroom Gallery, Cork Arts Theatre, Camden Court, Carroll's Quay, Cork until 2nd July 2009.

6 Perspectives on Light Facebook Event
The Greenroom Gallery
Padraig Spillane's Blog
Lucy Clarke's Blog
My Flickr

5 comments:

Winnie said...

The lighting and tone in these photos are really beautiful. They have a haunting quality to them, especially the one of the stairs and the door.

Re: I don't like contacts myself and wear my glasses a lot at home but not so much out of the house!

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

Love the light pattern on the wall. Looks beautiful.

belle de jour said...

beautiful photos! beautiful blog!

adding you at mint bits..

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful.

chiaroscuro said...

I love the photos, especially the one with the towel, really beautiful!