Wednesday, September 28, 2011

David Straight at Satellite Gallery, Auckland


Christchurch born photographer David Straight presents 'Still Here', a photographic documentation depicting suburban Christchurch following the February 22, 2011 earthquake. The images, ‘quiet, contemplative, subtle and located away from the most obvious scenes of devastation, give a sense of the lingering disruption’ to suburban Christchurch (John Savage).

David says this about the work, 'Still Here - A Landscape of an Earthquake' is a series of work showing suburban Christchurch after the February 22nd earthquake, one of New Zealand's most devastating natural disasters. I spent two weeks in the city, over a three-week period, walking for hours around the suburban streets simply recording what I saw in front of me. I set out with no preconceived ideas about what I would photograph, except to record what I encountered honestly without drama or pathos. What resulted is a series of photographs that to my mind speak of the disruption and fragility of the suburban environment. The images are powerful in what they do not reveal. They are subtle in their language and allow the viewer a space to consider the event without being assaulted. They in effect form a landscape of an earthquake.




This is a profound and rewarding show well worth having a look at. It runs until October 22nd.

Satellite Gallery
Cnr St Benedicts St + Newton Rd
Newton, Auckland
http://www.satellitegallery.co.nz/
http://www.davidstraight.net/

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