Last weeks to see the Julia Fullerton-Batten’s exhibition A testament to love at the Johnson Gallery, in New York.
“‘A Testament to Love’ is a narrative about the struggles of life when love goes wrong. The women in my images wrestle with the eternal search for a happy ending, but find themselves left with feelings of solitude, loneliness, fear, regret and resignation. Are they searching for a meaning to their lives or just waiting for something to happen. Each image is set against a cinematic background, which is inspired by the style of locations and lighting in Hollywood films from the 1960s and 1970s as well as the iconic work of Edward Hopper. I use hard lighting and prefer atmospheric skies to heighten the drama in broad daylight. These images are like stills from a movie and I have captured the moment just before or just after the climax of the scenario.They illustrate the outcome of an unsuccessful meeting with a lover, the product of a painful goodbye or maybe just a reflection of our own inner anxieties. These scenarios are laden with emotion and tension and leave the viewer with more questions than answers. However the women are not simply passive recipients of life’s drama but an integral part with their own important roles to play. They are empowered.Are they being followed or are they following?Are they leaving or have they been left?It’s up to the viewer to decide, but I would guess the conclusions reveal as much about the viewers experiences as my intentions.” Julia Fullerton-Batten
Fullerton-Batten has received much critical acclaim and has been featured in the New Yorker, Le Monde, and the Financial Times, among others. Her work was the cover image for Thames & Hudson’s 2009 book A Guide to Collecting Contemporary Photography. She has shown at esteemed international institutions such as Centre Pompidou, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; and a solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Opening in February, her work is featured at the Swedish Museum of Photography. Born in Germany, Fullerton-Batten lives and works in London.
EXHIBITION
Jenkins Johnson Gallery
December 17, 2013 – February 15, 2014
521 W 26th Street 5th floor
New York NY 10001
USA
http://www.jenkinsjohnsongallery.com
http://www.juliafullerton-batten.com
