Henry Horenstein - Humans
 
april 1- 30, 2005
   

gallery hours: tues - sat 11am - 5:30pm

 

 


Click on thumbnail for larger view
>>>>
Preview the book, Humans,
published by
Kehrer Verlag
Heidelberg

 

 
>>>>>
Boston's Sweethearts
Thru the Keyhole
Burlesque

performs 7:30 & 8:00
at the
opening reception
   
 
 

Clifford • Smith Gallery is pleased to announce its April exhibition of new photographs by Henry Horenstein: Humans. This is the debut exhibition for this newest body of work and is accompanied by a book of the same title published by Kehrer Verlag Heidelberg. There will be a reception for the artist on Friday, April 1st, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

In his introduction to the book, Robert Flynn Johnson, Curator in Charge of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, writes:

“Mystery and a curious disorientation is a first reaction upon viewing the most recent manifestation of Henry Horenstein’s photographic art. By all accounts, this should not be the case. His subject matter is the human body of which we all have intimate knowledge, albeit at least with our own. The strangeness of Horenstein’s imagery is that he has concentrated on the extreme close-up scrutiny of the human body, turning it from the outer layers of distinct personalities and individuals into universal landscapes with flesh substituting for soil and hair acting as foliage. This visual test of our sensibilities has a basis for explanation. We are so used to our own bodies that we see, but don’t really observe ourselves. Except for noting something out of the ordinary, such as the appearance of a bruise or blemish, we see through ourselves as we go about the private activities of dressing, bathing, and seeing our reflection in the mirror. We gaze on the bodies of others in admiration, envy, or eros, but rarely with the dispassionate intensity of these photographs.”

Horenstein adds, “Ten years ago, for no discernible reason, I began photographing land and sea animals and produced books called CREATURES, CANINE, and AQUATICS. As the work progressed, I moved closer and closer so I could see my subjects more intimately. This way of working felt very different than photographing people, places, and events as a documentary photographer; it was far more peaceful, relaxing, and introspective. And it required a lot more patience. Photographing the human body was simply a natural extension of this direction.”
Henry Horenstein is Professor of Photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is the subject of numerous monographs and the author of the benchmark manuals Black and White Photography and Color Photography.



For more information please e-mail the gallery or call 617.695.0255 

   

Henry Horenstein

untitled

2004

silver gelatin print

16" x 20"

or

30" x 40"