In Praise of Shadows
Print
2003 (made)
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.
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 | |
Title | In 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 |
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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 created | October 13, 2004 |
Record URL |
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