Oculus. His latest project is about the relation between images, memory and the metaphor of light. A project that redefines the personal photographic essay: this is also a book that looks deeply at the metaphors we make. Schles trains his eye (and his pen) on an inward analysis, focusing on the connection between images, perception and memory.
New collaboration between Noorderlicht and Ken Schles
Book and exhibition about about images, memory and the metaphor of light
Photographic grandmaster Ken Schles is returning to Noorderlicht. From 22 October
through 11 December the Noorderlicht Photogallery is presenting his latest project,
Oculus. It is an exhibition about the relation between images, memory and the
metaphor of light. Simultaneously Noorderlicht will be publishing the book Oculus, a
moving follow-up to his acclaimed 2009 release, A New History of Photography. The
opening will take place on Friday, 21 October, at 5:00 p.m., with the American
photographer Ed Kashi as the speaker.
We infuse the world we encounter with meaning, with social and symbolic
significance based on the value we place upon representations we share. This,
perhaps, is the irony of our conceptualizations: We make and share images so that
we may know the world. But what exactly is the nature of our image representations?
And what are the implications of using the metaphor of the image to signify,
codify and describe a dynamic and ephemeral world?
Oculus
Oculus is an original project that redefines the personal photographic essay; this
is a book that looks deeply at the metaphors we make. Schles trains his eye (and his
pen) on an inward analysis, focusing on the connection between images, perception
and memory. With cogent prose and beautiful images, Ken Schles embarks on a
compelling and personal exploration. Indeed, in this, perhaps his most seductive
work to date, he is seeking to describe the source of awareness itself.
The book has 96 pages with fullcolour images and a hardcover. Price: EUR 39,50, size
22x31 cm. ISBN/EAN 978-90-76703-45-9. Oculus is for sale in our webshop.
Ken Schles and Noorderlicht
Noorderlicht is deeply honoured to have the privilege of working with Ken Schles
again. Noorderlicht and Ken Schles have regularly worked together since 1999 in the
presentation of new and challenging work. Schles has taken part in several
Noorderlicht Festivals, including Sense of Space (2001) and Traces & Omens
(2005), and participated in the project Promised Land (2005), and he showed in the
Noorderlicht Photogallery in 2005 and 2009. The book and exhibition Oculus now join
this impressive list.
About the photographer
Ken Schles (US, b. 1960) made his name in 1990 with the influential and now classic
photo book Invisible City. His books are discribed as 'intellectual milestones in
photography' (Süddeutsche Zeitung); 'hellishly briliant' (The New Yorker) and
'a rare gem' (1000 Words Photography). His work is included in private and public
collections such as MoMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum and
The Art Institute of Chicago, among others.
About Noorderlicht
The Noorderlicht Photogallery is a permanent exhibition space for photography that
is not afraid to cross boundaries, be they national or genre, to tell its story.
Through the gallery Noorderlicht seeks to offer a platform for young local talent,
but also bring idiosyncratic masters from The Netherlands and other countries to
the attention of a wider audience. Moreover, the gallery functions as a laboratory
for the annual photo festivals. But Noorderlicht does more. Through its
publications, master classes, discussions, lectures and provision of photography
commissions, Noorderlicht stimulates the development of photography, particularly
documentary. Rooted in the northern Netherlands, Noorderlicht casts its gaze across
the whole world, with an eye for social themes and visual beauty.
Information, images and other requests:
Photogallery: Olaf Veenstra
Photofestival: Charissa Caron
publicity@noorderlicht.com
Noorderlicht Photofestival, Photogallery, Projects, Publisher
Akerkhof 12, 9711 JB Groningen, NL
Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday 12.00 – 6pm
Admission free