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In Praise of Shadows

Print
2003 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto works across a variety of media, but is best known for his photographs. He has a particular interest in historic photography techniques.

This print, a view from an installation also entitled In Praise of Shadows, is made with the aid of a camera obscura, or a pin-hole camera. This installation was on display at the Serpentine Gallery, where Sugimoto had an exhibition in 2003-2004. Sugimoto constructed a dark room, representing a camera obscura, at the centre of the gallery. A single candle was lit in the room, casting a flickering shadow through a photographic transparency of a candle on the wall behind.

This candle flame, burning over a period of time, is also the subject of this lithograph which was made on the occasion of the Serpentine exhibition. The installation and its photographic record is concerned with the essence of photography; the passing of time recorded by the action of light. This is captured in turn by the printmaking technique of lithography, creating a layering of image-making techniques in a single object. The fragile candle flame, burning itself out over a short space of time, is clearly intended as a reference to human mortality and vulnerability.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleIn Praise of Shadows (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Lithograph on paper
Brief description
In Praise of Shadows, Hiroshi Sugimoto, lithograph, 2003
Physical description
A lithograph showing a white flame-like figure on black background
Dimensions
  • Paper height: 46cm
  • Paper width: 28.5cm
  • Image height: 30cm
  • Image width: 24cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signed and numbered by the artist
Credit line
Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund
Production
This limited edition print was conceived by Hiroshi Sugimoto on the occasion of his exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, London (18 November 2003 - 18 January 2004).
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto works across a variety of media, but is best known for his photographs. He has a particular interest in historic photography techniques.

This print, a view from an installation also entitled In Praise of Shadows, is made with the aid of a camera obscura, or a pin-hole camera. This installation was on display at the Serpentine Gallery, where Sugimoto had an exhibition in 2003-2004. Sugimoto constructed a dark room, representing a camera obscura, at the centre of the gallery. A single candle was lit in the room, casting a flickering shadow through a photographic transparency of a candle on the wall behind.

This candle flame, burning over a period of time, is also the subject of this lithograph which was made on the occasion of the Serpentine exhibition. The installation and its photographic record is concerned with the essence of photography; the passing of time recorded by the action of light. This is captured in turn by the printmaking technique of lithography, creating a layering of image-making techniques in a single object. The fragile candle flame, burning itself out over a short space of time, is clearly intended as a reference to human mortality and vulnerability.
Collection
Accession number
E.3734-2004

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Record createdOctober 13, 2004
Record URL
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