Asya Geisberg Gallery presents an exhibition by Chilean photographer Rodrigo Valenzuela.
“Stature” features eight photogravures taken of the artist’s studio constructions. The pre-film photogravure process gives the prints rich grey-sepia tones, lending them an august air, and the configurations of concrete forms resemble anything from Brutalist architecture to monuments, machinery, or monsters. The images mimic the language of documentary photography, but, at odds with their apparent gravitas, the concrete pieces are in fact cast from discarded consumer packaging. Their immobility, too, is an illusion – all the forms are carefully stacked and balanced, rather than cast as a whole or glued in place. Valenzuela’s previous work in photography, video and installation often involves narratives around immigration and the working class. The layering of social critique, art historical awareness, re-evaluation of the traditions of documentary photography, and a sense of play are all equally signature to his work.
Rodrigo Valenzuela: “Stature”
October 29 – December 19, 2020
Asya Geisberg Gallery
537B West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
www.asyageisberggallery.com
The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am – 6pm. Appointments are preferred but not required, and walk-ins are welcome dependent on capacity. Masks are required. To reserve a viewing time, click here.
