PH21 GALLERY

Exhibition: Out Of The Ordinary

May 4th - 22nd, 2024

VIEW ONLINE

https://www.ph21gallery.com/out-of-the-ordinary-24

Out of the ordinary is often characterised as strange, unusual, odd, peculiar, bizarre, uncanny, weird, mysterious, or even surreal. Subjects, scenes, themes, perspectives, compositions, portrayed events, visual experiences, and imaginative narratives may all deviate from the ordinary. Photographers often step into the realm of the extraordinary through the lens of their camera, embracing the unconventional, where the peculiar dances with the mysterious, and the odd intertwines with the surreal. They explore the realms of strange, unusual, and uncanny. Some venture into the world of traditional straight photography, where authenticity captures the essence of the outlandish. Others delve into staged photography, where each frame unfolds a narrative beyond the ordinary, or embrace the art of photomontage, seamlessly blending disparate elements to craft a visual tapestry of uniqueness. AI-generated photo-based images offer a digital canvas to manifest the bizarre and create a fusion of reality and imagination. This exhibition celebrates the diversity of perspectives that redefine the ordinary and elevate the extraordinary. The photographer’s lens is the gateway to a realm where the peculiar becomes art, the bizarre transforms into beauty, and the unconventional takes centre stage.

Cultures around the world have embraced the mysterious and otherworldy for millennia – celebrating their presence within dances, music and rituals – events which also allow for huge creative expression.  These two images are a part of a larger body of work exploring these themes -  photographed for over a decade around the world from the streets of London to the remote Andes.. Each image uses ‘long exposure photography’ to capture the colourful chaos and boisterous ecstasy of these events. These images are shot entirely ‘in-camera’  with no digital manipulation. ‘Spirit of the Andes’ took 2 days and over 2000 failed images to produce this single photograph. ‘Spirit of J’Ouvert’ required being fully immersed in a boisterous, paint-throwing cultural ritual, photographed over two days.