Johann Ryno de Wet
dal 4/3/2009 al 15/5/2009
Segnalato da
4/3/2009
Johann Ryno de Wet
Camara oscura galeria de arte, Madrid
Shadow Valley. The artist presents a new photographic series. His images portrait a real but nameless city, empty, eerie, but at the same time enigmatic due to its atmospheres and half-times, with suspended and suburban places.
Next Thursday 5 March, a solo exhibition of the South African artist Johann Ryno de
Wet opens at the camara oscura art gallery.
After the overwhelming and unexpected success of his first solo exhibition with just 24
years old, Johann Ryno de Wet (Johannesburg, 1982) returns to Madrid to mesmerize us
with his brand-new images. Pointed out as a young promise by the prestigious American
institution Aperture Foundation and having toured in countless international exhibitions and
art fairs, Ryno de Wet has proved that he is more than just a promising artist: he is a first-
class photographer with a discourse of his own and an exceptional talent. Acclaimed by
collectors, curators, critics, and admirers, the consensus of the market is unanimous,
something very difficult to gain.
In his new series “Shadow Valley”, he comes back to a city in which he photographs
his dreams. This is not a metaphor, it is literally true and actually is what differentiates Ryno
de Wet from the rest of artists. This is a gift that he employs to create images full of visual
talent and disturbing mystery.
His images portrait a real but nameless city, empty, eerie, but at the same time
enigmatic due to its atmospheres and half-times, with suspended and suburban places.
Sometimes we play the sleepwalker and we tread a harbour or a gold mine, as if being alone
in the world, the last man on the “Shadow Valley” planet. Sometimes we ride a magic flying
carpet and fly over landscapes under construction and Babels like futurist skyscrapers, as if
playing God.
The images of Ryno de Wet attact the viewer like a magnet. It is impossible to look
away from these visions just because they catch you in their spider’s web. In Ryno de Wet’s
own words “dreams are fascinating and mysterious to me and I simply want to explore this
and share my fascination with people”.
Opening: Thursday 5 at 8.00 pm
Camara oscura galeria de arte
c/ Alameda, 16 - Madrid
Free admission