In his new series, published by Steidl, American photographer Mitch Epstein investigates the meaning of time by photographing millions of years old rocks, and clouds that evaporate before our eyes. These large-format black-and-white pictures examine society’s complex relationship to nature, a theme Epstein has explored in previous work, including his acclaimed tree pictures (New York Arbor, 2013). The way the sky and ground can mirror one another intrigued ancient Chinese painters, as well as modern sculptors and the Surrealists, all of whom inspired this project. Epstein draws attention to the sculptural quality of New York City’s clouds, and architecture, a very mineral city. Clouds engulf a cargo ship, buildings recall constructivist paintings, while along parks and walks centenarian maple trees look like glacial erratic. Rocks and Clouds suggests society’s inability to control time and tame nature. While it seems impossible to make a fresh picture of New York, Epstein gives us a surprising portrait of it.
Mitch Epstein, Rocks and Clouds
Published by Steidl
€ 65.00
