Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Art, Fashion & Design >

Gregory Colbert's "Ashes & Snow"

16:40 / 16.04.05

Following on the recent success of drawing folks to Christo’s “The Gates” in Central Park, Canadian photographer, Gregory Colbert has New Yorkers and visitors lining up in droves to see his exhibition “Ashes & Snow” (currently through to June 6) on Manhattan’s Pier 54 on the Hudson River.

The exhibition is housed in his Nomadic Museum – a 45,000 square foot temporary structure constructed by 148 carefully arranged shipping containers whose interior evokes a modern-day cathedral. The structure was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban

“Colbert….travels the world taking pictures of people communing with whales, elephants, and other animals. He got the idea (and funds) for the museum after his one-man installation in 2002 at the Venice Biennale’s Arsenale.” [New York Magazine | February 21, 2005].

The stunning photographs focus on the interplay between humans and other animals in scenarios so unusual (including self portraits of Colbert swimming with elephants and whales) prompting many to ask: "Are they real?"

This exhibit coincides with the release of the artist’s novel, of which the exhibit is named after. “Ashes and Snow: A Novel in Letters” is a fictional account of a man who, over the course of a yearlong journey, composes 365 letters to his wife. The origin of the title is revealed in the 365th letter. Colbert’s photographs and a one-hour film loosely reference the traveler’s encounters and experiences described in the letters.

So, what do you think?

10:49 / 20.04.05

I'd really like to see these photos in the gallery -particularly like this one -

and think that those pictures, at that size ("approximately three feet by ten", apparently) would look amazing. The gallery looks good too -so, I've not really got much to say about it, just bumping the thread because I think the links are worth a look!

What do people think about his emphasis on authenticity, incidentally? The pictures are printed on "dense, Japanese cloth-like parchment manufactured in a secret medieval process", and his book is "printed and bound in Italy; the covers are created out of handmade paper from Nepal which is sealed with natural beeswax; interior pages are printed on handmade Italian paper; each book is hand sewn and tied with thread stained with hibiscus tea leaves". What do these techniques add to the art as a whole? I've not seen them in real life, so I'm interested about how different the pictures look as a result of all this (compared to a picture printed using less rare material)

Tryphena Absent

01:05 / 22.04.05

I'm really of the opinion that the materials are as much the art as the pictures themselves. I've always found the process of creating art rather fascinating and that so much time and dedication is spent on creating the book suggests to me that its as important as the images. That's the kind of art I really appreciate.

14:34 / 22.04.05

Stunningly beautiful, kind of get the feeling that the human's in the photographs are worshipping the animals.

As to the whole production of the book itself..... not sure in a way. How much are these books selling for? The problem with selling books with whatever pages etc is that it removes the art from everyone apart from those who can afford it. These photographs may survive for a long time in an exhibition or online but one day all that will be left are the photographs in a private collection/s and the books usually are still affordable. If the books are viewed as artworks in themselves this changes the game, then both originals and books will be in collection/s.

08:15 / 25.04.05

The books are being sold for $150 archraven, which would be about £78.

The problem with selling books with whatever pages etc is that it removes the art from everyone apart from those who can afford it.

When I first read about them, I thought pretty much exactly this but having thought about it a bit longer I'm less sure. I like the idea that it's possible to see an exhibition and then own a part of that art without having to be rich enough to buy one of the pictures; it's part of the same project, the same care has been taken over them as the rest of the project, but they're significantly less expensive. It's still exclusive, since the point of making a book like that is that it can't be mass produced, but I like the idea much more when (as you said) I consider it as part of the whole artwork.

11:00 / 25.04.05

Reducto ray to max!

Am I alone in thinking this looks like a load of new-agey twaddle?

Tryphena Absent

11:22 / 25.04.05

Well I've got to say I prefer the idea of making the book art than the actual photos, which remind me of the Athena shop on Finchley High Street in the 1980's.

12:24 / 25.04.05

Yep, Athena springs to mind, alright. Said as much to my SO last night.

12:10 / 06.05.05

I love how the humans are so reverent and worshipful and the elephants are like,"Dum de Dum, can I have some fruit?"

12:12 / 06.05.05

That being said, there are some incredible images in there.