Art of Arrangement - Photography and the Still Life Tradition

   'Art of Arrangement' is an exhibition currently being held at 'The Holburne Museum' in Bath, it focuses on how photographers have explored the Still Life tradition which has captured photographer's and artist's imaginations form as early s the beginning of the 19th century, and often full of symbolic depth and meaning. Photographers have also used Still Life to capture and document scientific purposes and for the development of inventories and catalogues, as well as a channel for their own creative representation.
   The exhibition is split up in to seven sections of work, these are;

• 'On Close Inspection'
• 'Still Life in Camera'
• 'Reflection on Light and Dark'
• 'Order and Disorder'
• 'Still Life with Figure'
• 'The Submersive'
• 'Movement and Stillness'

 each of these sections hold works from relevant photographers ranging from William Henry Fox Talbot, Ansell Adams, Chris Killip, Philippe Halsman and many more photography geniuses.
   I felt very much in awe throughout this exhibition, as I was surrounded by some of the greatest photographers original prints, which doesn't happen often.

First view going in to the exhibition.

   There were two images that I found my self most drawn to were 'Insect wings, as seen under a solar microscope, c.1840' by William Henry Fox Talbot and 'Frosche in Bauch-und Ruckenlage' 1896 by Josef Maria Eder.

William Henry Fox Talbot - 'Insect wings, as seen under a solar microscope', c.1840

   I find the detailing captured in this image by Fox Talbot of the insect wing, to be truly stunning, how he has captured the intricate and delicate nature of each wing. I find it astonishing, considering that this image was taken during the early days of photography. I even went on to by a postcard depicting this particular image, and it is now proudly stuck on my wall.

Josef Maria Eder - 'Frosche in Bauch-und Ruckenlage' 1896

   I'm not sure what drew me to this image by Eder's image of the frog x-ray, I think maybe its my curiosity of what goes on underneath the surface, and how things look, beyond what you can actually see. Again like Fox Talbot's image to achieve something like this in the early years of photography is amazing, with the first x-ray being produce by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen a year previous, and the first published in a newspaper in 1896, which is said to have shocked and fascinated the public.
   Eder's image reminds me of the work by Nick Veasey, and i will go in to more detail about him and his work in a later post, but for now here is one of his images to feast your eyes upon.
  

Nick Veasey - 'Fish'

   Overall I would highly recommend that you go and see this show, as it may be the only chance you get to, get up close and personal with these original prints. The show runs at The Holburne Museum Bath until the 7th March 2012, so get going!


Websites
www.holburne.org