The end is near . . . if you don't check out this exhibit
U of M Thesis students showcase new work
TIMOTHY BROWN STAFF
It began March 9 and will be running until the 31st. It is the University of Manitoba thesis photography exhibit, appropriately titled The End Is Near. The exhibit is being held at Platform Gallery in the Artspace building and features highlights from the thesis work of eight U of M students: Natalie Ferguson, Hilori Glanfield, Dionne Horsford, Carmen Howatt, Alison Pattern, Rina Patsiatzis, Evan Ross and Elaine Stocki.
Platform: Centre for Photographic and Digital Arts is a gallery that traffics in all aspects of photo-based media. The gallery displays work that not only, as stated on their website, “demonstrates a high standard of technical prowess,” but also “embodies the desire to re-evaluate the aesthetic and conceptual boundaries of the medium.” This description holds true for The End is Near. Each of the artists involved displays not only that “technical prowess” but also showcases photography in a way that strips away the conventionality that can sometimes be found within that medium, thus allowing the works to reveal something wholly unique as well as genuinely beautiful.
Each student incorporates a different approach to photography, giving the show a very eclectic atmosphere. Here is a broad overview of the artists and their work:
Natalie Ferguson’s work is a study of placing personality into a space. She creates different compositions by creating different rooms using the same space, completely transforming it from one photo to the other. The result is a series beautifully captured rooms, each showing a strong and very different personality.
Hilori Glanfield’s work focuses on small, random objects from her parents’ farm. “I tried to look at the familiar with new eyes; use a different perspective. There’s a mystery and a sort of whimsical, fantasy world in those photos,” says Glanfield, whose work also displays amazing contrast and rich colours.
Carmen Howatt is exhibiting two pieces, both focusing on nature. The first is a simple but gorgeous shot of a wooded area, and the second is of a train travelling through the mountains, which may or may not be simply a model, allowing the viewer to question the reality that has been captured on film.
Dionne Horsford’s works are self-portraits, displaying herself in various rooms of a house. Horford explains, “The fact that they’re self-portraits is unimportant. My concept has to do with specific rooms in the house, how you fit in the rooms, and what you’re expected to do with these rooms.” While her work presents itself as very formal, the colours used in each photograph add a sense of quirkiness. However, that quirkiness doesn’t strip the photographs of their dignity, as each one is filled with a subtle, elegant beauty.
Alison Pattern’s photos are a series of nudes. Each nude is captured beautifully, showing amazing curves as they take on various positions. The fact that each model is also staring directly into the camera creates a great deal of tension. It makes them haunting and nearly impossible to look away from.
Elaine Stocki’s work are a series of portraits capturing people during those “in-between” moments, moments in which the subject doesn’t appear, at first glance, to be doing anything particularly remarkable. “I’m really interested in photographing in-between moments or moments where nothing really happened but I’ve determined that it’s important,” said Stocki.
Evan Ross’s work are presented as a sort of story. He uses himself as the model in the photograph as well as a pair of ravens. As the series progresses, Ross looks to be getting crazier, as if tormented by the ravens that never seem to leave. The series is eerie and at times almost disturbing, but at the same time, very playful.
Rina Patsiatzis’ work displays, as Patsiatzis says, “the idea of demolition and reconstruction.” They are a series of pictures taken at what one can only assume is some form of construction site. The pieces follow the conceptual theme of demolition and construction, but they also place emphasis on light and colour. “I’m drawn to compositions that really use light in a way that I think is interesting,” explains Patsiatzis.
The exhibition is excellent and something any photography enthusiast should check out. These students bring a youthful, new approach to the medium. It is obvious that they take photography seriously and put great passion into their work, but still allow playfulness as well, making this exhibit not only visually appealing, but a lot of fun as well.
