Chiaroscuro Contemporary Art presents new abstract landscape photographs by Gunnar Plake titled The Space Between. The show consists of nine large scale photographs made over the past two years in and around the Grand Canyon. The exhibition runs from October 24 through November 22, with the public opening reception, Friday, October 24 from 5 to 7pm.
Gunnar Plake’s photographs come alive in unexpected ways, accentuating the colors and patterns of desert landscapes rather than emphasizing the minutiae of the land when seen in perfect focus. Plake’s images of the western landscapes capture the look and feel of broad vistas as seen in real time. The slight distortions seen in his work are an effect achieved through careful manipulation of the camera, creating “strokes” during long exposures that result in an emphasis on shimmering bands of color and light that appear textured, almost tactile. The captured image is then printed large scale and mounted on anodized aluminum.
The Space Between is a complete body of work which focuses on the Grand Canyon: images that reveal canyon shadows in soft shades of purple and blue, a trick of the light often taken for granted in other photographer’s work is emphasized by Plake.
A resident of Santa Fe, Plake has shown his interpretive landscapes extensively throughout the United States and his works reside in several major museums. His subjects range from seascapes to wide-open desert vistas, woods and forests. His technique results in images that highlight the sense of fluid motion and the beauty of the interaction between light and shadow, between light and the reflective and absorptive properties of matter—all done to dizzying and brilliant effect.
A catalogue of Plake’s work will accompany the exhibition along with a DVD showcasing his working process while creating the Grand Canyon series. This is Plake’s first exhibition at Chiaroscuro.
