Sean Perry (American, 1968)
New York City
The Monolith pictures are a study of contemporary skyscrapers, recasting the built environment of Manhattan into its most primal forms: concrete, glass, steel, light and air. I began by photographing buildings that have always inspired me, deeply moved by the drawings of Hugh Ferriss and the cityscape imagined in film. In my view these structures emanate a heroic posture and character that is felt, and I see them metaphorically as cynosures, the stars that illuminate and define this city.
I work with a Hasselblad camera and Tri-X film. I find the simplicity suits me, providing an ideal 2 1/4” negative for my images and printing style. The final prints are 30 x 30” split-toned gelatin silver, bleached and rendered in various combinations of sepia, selenium, and gold.
