I can't tell you the number of times I've tried to photograph this piece at the Phoenix Art Museum. It's almost impossible to get it without distracting reflections.
That said, reading the description of this piece gives you a lot to think about. The artist is Josiah McElheny and the description reads:
"Can a three-dimensional object exist without a shadow? This question inspired Josiah McElheny to create his series Extended Landscape Model for Total Reflective Abstraction. The sculptures are a response to a conversation that began in 1929 between Buckminster Fuller, a theoretical engineer, and Isamu Noguchi, a sculptor. The two theorized that it was possible but the object would need to be perfectly reflective and exist in a reflective environment. Noguchi experimented to achieve this perfect combination, but McElheny was the one to realize their utopic theory fully. According to McElheny, the work explores themes of transparency, reflectivity, connection and seamlessness; elements for a utopic environment. However, McElheny notes that this vision is short-lived because the reality of a functional utopic society can only lead to horrible violence. Thus, his work takes the form of models rather than fully developed realities."
How is that for something heavy to think about this weekend? On the other hand, just enjoy looking at those pretty reflective forms and think about how hard this is to capture in a photo.
8 comments:
Fascinating!
Intriguing, Sharon! I like the first pic best.
Well, you sure nailed it today.
I like the first photo too. Thanks for giving us something to ponder. :)
I've had trouble photographing some of Dale Chihuly's work but didn't have the additional layer of theory atop it.
Wow that was a heavy artist statement Sharon 😉 the work itself is beautiful to look at, although as you say almost impossible to shoot without reflection ✨
Wow! That IS interesting. I never thought about a reflective environment being non-conducive to shadows. I love Noguchi's designs. There's a museum devoted to him and his work in Long Island City, NY.
Perception is whatever our brain experiences at a given moment. Have you tried shooting this with your lens exactly at the plane of the mirror? You may know the Strauss opera The Woman Without A Shadow.
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