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Photgraphy by: Sophie Slater, Natasha Solomons and Giuliana Sommantico

Preview Friday 7th October 2005

Exhibition runs Saturday 8th October - Sunday 30th October 2005

Artists' statements

"bliss is here"

“Divine places, without gods, with no god, are spread out everywhere around us, open and offered to our coming, to our going or to our presence, given up or promised to our visitation, to frequentation by those who are not men either, but who then are there, in these places: ourselves, alone, out to meet that which we are not, and which the gods for their part have ever been … other tracks , other ways, other places for all who are there.”
Jean Luc Nancy, the inoperative community

In this project I have worked to question our visual awareness and its impact on our imagination. Considering a momentary glimpse of the world, that might flash up, sublime.
Sophie Slater

When the Russian scientist ,Solokov, visited the forests of northern Lapland, he came across stories about a young girl who was travelling in search of her father across the arctic wastes with a wolf dog for company. He was intrigued with tales of her adventures and how she could survive and decided to follow her trail. He kept a journal in which he documented his own difficulties in this extreme environment and his encounters with the indigenous Sami reindeer herders. From them he learned the outcome of Susi's quest and another way of understanding the world of nature .

This exhibition is a part of a larger project in which I explore with photos, video and texts the interweaving stories and different realities of Solokov,Susi and the Sami.
Natasha Solomons

Repeated/Differential Icons

During the past two years I have been looking, observing the landscapes which most seduce me from Yorkshire. It is about a peculiar attractiveness: of what repeats itself, what is grouped and new to my eyes. A seductive landscape. Some images which are captured by my retina resemble a painting. An intensity of light. A landscape whose dreamlike character contrasts with the modern metropolis.

Repeated/Differential Icons is a journey through the cities and towns of Yorkshire, by train, bus and car. It is a confrontation with people who are strangers, unknown, who ask why are they the chosen ones, and who after finding the answer show some interest, and sometimes even, verbosity. Others in turn, hide themselves behind the shadows or their embarrassment.

It is a search which is depicted as snapshots of urban and rural life in this part of England, icons observed and captured during a journey which started in 2003 and finishes nowadays. It is directly linked to the sight, calls for attention, tells a past and present story, shows certain veins and moves on.

The contents of this work are structured around the series, the repetition of buildings, the repetition of some female-male fashion items, and a familiar pattern as a simple fish and chips box.

"...una ciudad corazón, una ciudad memoria, una ciudad infamia."
Julio Cortázar.

"... a heart city, a memory city, an infamy city."
Julio Cortázar.

Giuliana Sommantico.