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Coming into Focus
ŮٱƵAll of the photos in the exhibit are completely unedited,ŮٱƵ says Christian Solar ŮٱƵ23. ŮٱƵI really want to make that clear, because when you see them, they look crazy.ŮٱƵ
The images, which are part of ChristianŮٱƵs at the ŮٱƵ Art Gallery, were captured on a semi-vintage (circa 2008) Kodak EasyShare camera that had originally belonged to his mother.
ŮٱƵIt feels like such a stroke of luck,ŮٱƵ Christian says about his exhibit. He had been working on some images and shared them with Gallery Director Sarah Cunningham who saw an opportunity to develop his work into a cohesive exhibit. He went after the opportunity in full-force.
ŮٱƵYou look at the photo and video quality and you can pinpoint that this looks like early-2000s footage and it puts you back into that headspace,ŮٱƵ he explains. ŮٱƵEven if IŮٱƵm shooting really recent things, it still gives that feeling.ŮٱƵ
ŮٱƵThis camera is actually brokenŮٱƵcertified broken,ŮٱƵ he laughs. ŮٱƵI started using it because it gave me these surprise organic results. You never know what youŮٱƵre actually going to end up with; I canŮٱƵt predict it and itŮٱƵs almost like a filter.ŮٱƵ
Even though ChristianŮٱƵs cameras arenŮٱƵt even 20 years old, in the world of digital media, they are vintage. ThereŮٱƵs a distortion and fuzziness and a certain look that the cameras of 2021 just arenŮٱƵt able to give. Plus, just take a look at Instagram and TikTok, with faux light-leaks and pixelated filters abound. ThereŮٱƵs an ineffable quality to the recent past and Christian is capturing it, one photo and video at a time.
ŮٱƵYou look at the photo and video quality and you can pinpoint that this looks like early-2000s footage and it puts you back into that headspace,ŮٱƵ he explains. ŮٱƵEven if IŮٱƵm shooting really recent things, it still gives that feeling.ŮٱƵ
The exhibit is purely aesthetics, and for Christian, that was the point.
ŮٱƵI was looking to make things that were visually engaging,ŮٱƵ he says. ŮٱƵThere isnŮٱƵt necessarily a deeper meaning behind it. With the video, sure, IŮٱƵm working in visual symbology, but this exhibit is really all about looking pretty.ŮٱƵ
ChristianŮٱƵs work is on exhibit now through October 30, 2021, at the ŮٱƵ Art Gallery at 41 Park Row. On Friday, October 22, join Christian and other gallery artists for a special reception from 5:00 p.m.ŮٱƵ7:00 p.m.
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