The title of the latest series from British photographer Paul Graha is as enigmatic as its subject. Between 2011 and 2014, Graham set out—it’s unclear where—in search of rainbows. Consequently, the photographs in his new book from Mack and those on display at the Pace MacGill gallery in New York contain countless rays of blue, red, turquoise and yellow. But not exclusively. Slipped into these colorful landscapes are images of his girlfriend, usually seen laying in bed, and a few sunny New York sidewalks seen horizontally. It’s hard to say where the artist is going to, even with his attempt at clarification:
“A visual meditation on our universal search for fulfillment (be it material, romantic, or spiritual), Does Yellow Run Forever? weaves between fact, myth, and dream as viewers contemplate the figurative rainbows that we each chase, perhaps foolishly, to make our dreams a reality. This series pushes deeper into an ongoing exploration of the ephemeral and quotidian in the fabric of our lives, combining images of rainbows from Western Ireland, a young woman (the artist’s partner) asleep in different rooms on the far side of the world, and the facades of down-at-heel New York City gold shops, to collectively consider the fleeting things we seek and value in life: love, wealth, happiness, beauty—the metaphorical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Does Yellow Run Forever? refuses to reduce the world to a knowable schema, but instead embraces the puzzle—that there are no singular meanings, direct answers, or gold waiting at the end of the rainbow. Yet, there are startling visions in the everyday, be they beautiful or not, dreams worth dreaming, magical scenes to be seen, and true moments of wonder to be found.”
Is yellow the common denominator here? Perhaps. Is there a link between the metaphorical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and his girlfriend? Possibly. Whatever the answers, these photographs must have required patience and tenacity. Some of them are wonderful. A rainbow spans a country road, its colors beautiful and vivid. Another appears in a forest, peeking out between tree trunks and their greenery. Two travel together in a field. In one extraordinary photograph, Graham captures a rainbow at its source in a valley, almost like its lair, and shows how these iridescent phenomena come to life. Composed of fascinating visions small and large, Does Yellow Run Forever? is incomprehensible but so touching that what Paul Graham was thinking matters little.
EXHIBITION
Does yellow run forever ?
Until October 4 2014
Pace McGill Gallery
510 West 25th Street
New York NY 10001
USA
Tel: 212.255.4044
http://www.pacegallery.com
BOOK
Publisher: MACK
96 pages
31 photographs
€35.00 £30.00 $50.00
ISBN 9781910164068
