Loose Conviction
An exhibition of photographs by Brendon Kahn, curated by Averil Curci
on display at the Ashurst Emerging Artist Gallery, 1st September 2019 - 29th March 2020
Southwest USA-based visual artist Brendon Kahn’s work explores today’s reality where the approach to photography is navigated by a mirage in the vicinity of contrast and unsettling moments where uncanny disruptions defamiliarise our experiences with the ordinary. Guided by competition and paved by modernity’s fierce push for perfection, these strangely manufactured channels of both sincerity and surreal moments raise questions around our notions of certainty and visual faith.
The photographs exhibited open complex narrative possibilities. Using bold, sensual colours and powerful compositions Kahn configures a mysterious and at times destabilising reality for the viewer. A sublime, crimson-tinged landscape lies mainly uninhabited but for a herd of grazing horses. Yellow tape leads our gaze through mountains of gravel, while a soft breeze enters a dark room though light-suffused curtains. In “Finding Neverland” a young boy leaps away from the viewer towards an uncertain destination. Society’s obsession with surveillance is brought to light in “Neighborhood Watch”, which portrays an awkwardly rigged signpost; a desperate technological pursuit, steeped in failure.
Kahn astutely captures enigmatic perspectives he discovers, revealing the subtleties and strange beauty of this visible world. With concentrated focus, he creates highly charged and psychologically captivating images of great resonance.
The photographs exhibited open complex narrative possibilities. Using bold, sensual colours and powerful compositions Kahn configures a mysterious and at times destabilising reality for the viewer. A sublime, crimson-tinged landscape lies mainly uninhabited but for a herd of grazing horses. Yellow tape leads our gaze through mountains of gravel, while a soft breeze enters a dark room though light-suffused curtains. In “Finding Neverland” a young boy leaps away from the viewer towards an uncertain destination. Society’s obsession with surveillance is brought to light in “Neighborhood Watch”, which portrays an awkwardly rigged signpost; a desperate technological pursuit, steeped in failure.
Kahn astutely captures enigmatic perspectives he discovers, revealing the subtleties and strange beauty of this visible world. With concentrated focus, he creates highly charged and psychologically captivating images of great resonance.
Neighbourhood Watch, 2018
140 x 112cm UV Print on Dibond |
"Society’s obsession with surveillance is brought to light in “Neighbourhood Watch”, which portrays an awkwardly rigged signpost; a desperate technological pursuit, steeped in failure." - excerpt from the catalogue. |
Dawn, 2017
81 x 102cm UV Print on Dibond |
Finding Neverland, 2017
81 x 102cm UV Print on Dibond |
Atlas, 2016
40 x 50cm UV Print on Dibond |
Bisect, 2017
40 x 50cm UV Print on Dibond |
As the Dust Settles, 2017
50 x 40cm
UV Print on Dibond
50 x 40cm
UV Print on Dibond
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Brendon Kahn is a southwest USA-based visual artist and photography graduate of the California College of The Arts. He follows a path of curiosity through a strange mirage manufactured in the vicinity of contrast and unsettling moments where strange disruptions begin to defamiliarise our emotions with the ordinary. The magnetism of inexplicable visual elements is closely associated with confusion stemming from relationship to place. For much of his life he has been distanced from the idea of home and those around him, continuing to view things with an oscillating distance. Adopted from Poland, in less than ideal circumstances, has led him to never feel fully rooted in an environment. The biological distance and physical shifts in space with constant moves during his childhood make him question who lays claim to where and when. Recently completing his BFA, he continues to make lens-based work and recently won the PDNedu Grand Prize for Landscape as well as being a finalist for Miami Photo, HeadOn, Lenzburg Foto, and was shortlisted for the ChromaLuxe X Lucie Foundation Scholarship.
See more at www.brendonkahn.com
See more at www.brendonkahn.com
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Averil Curci is a London-based art adviser specialising in Photography with over 15 years of art world experience. Her advisory work focuses on acquisitions, sales and commissions for international private clients. She also mentors photographers providing creative direction, strategic and commercial advice. Averil was recently appointed as the Curator of an early stage art tech start up.
Starting in New York where she was the director for Hamburg Kennedy Art Advisory & Projects, an established photography consultancy. Following this, she became the director of Brancolini Grimaldi, a contemporary photography gallery born in Florence and Rome which expanded to London, Mayfair in 2011. There she worked closely with both emerging and established artists, curating exhibitions and art fairs, developing special projects, events and publications.
See more at www.averilcurci.com
Starting in New York where she was the director for Hamburg Kennedy Art Advisory & Projects, an established photography consultancy. Following this, she became the director of Brancolini Grimaldi, a contemporary photography gallery born in Florence and Rome which expanded to London, Mayfair in 2011. There she worked closely with both emerging and established artists, curating exhibitions and art fairs, developing special projects, events and publications.
See more at www.averilcurci.com