Colin Lyons
Torn LA
February 22 - March 12
giftshop project space is pleased to present Torn LA, a solo show of unique ink jet prints by Chicago artist Colin Lyons. Torn LA showcases a suite of seven unique photographs all shot within four hours of each other on the streets of Los Angeles. These photographs deal with self awareness in both the contemporary art world and within culture on a whole, they also address the viewer's relationship to a moment and a juxtaposition between natural vs. unnatural elements.
The images are self referencing to the photographic process, by incorporating the piece of photo paper that the photograph is printed on into the image on its surface. The prints are made unique through the fact that they each have an edge torn off. Through this tear, the viewer is able to identify that the torn paper in the image is the same paper which they are currently looking at.
This special technique in which the photographs are made creates a new sense of time as the moment of photography and the moment of viewing are linked by the creation of the object. The object becomes unique in the sense that there can be only one copy on the torn piece of paper. The photo is also unique in the sense that it captures a single moment containing the torn piece of paper. Yet, this same piece of paper also exists in the moment of the viewer standing in front of the work.
This self awareness of mechanical reproduction and the synthetic mediations of viewing the world is reflected through the natural elements incorporated into the photographs. In addition to being shot over four hours, these photos were also shot as a group in front of the Gehry building that is Disney Hall. Many of the photos depict the contrast between the structure of the building and naturalistic qualities. They show trees, branches, even sections of figures. A hand here, a leg there, and a "LA girl" with sun glasses holding up one of the pieces of photo paper.
By contrasting these natural elements with unnatural components, the content of the photographs work in the same way as placing the torn photo paper in the compositions. In an increasingly manufactured society, one looses sight of their personal relationship to the natural world. By putting natural and unnatural elements together the viewer is once again pulled between moments. They are asked to address where they stand in relation to their modern sensibility to nature verses a synthetic environment.
Lyons specially sought out Los Angeles because according to the artist "Los Angeles simultaneously embraces and also rebels against is own success with the beautiful and superficial." Los Angeles deals with the creation of an image, in the sense that it manufactures culture that embraces youth, wealth, physical attractiveness, and other image based ideals. By presenting a photograph which shows the viewer how it is made within the context of LA culture, Lyons invites the viewer to question the means in which culture is manufacturing the environment in which these self aware photographs were made.
Colin Lyons graduated with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2005, with an emphasis in Photography and Visual and Critical Studies. He has been included in exhibitions at Three Seasons Gallery, Spudnik Press, Lloyd Dobler Gallery, and Butchershop/Dogmatic. Lyons is also a successful commercial photographer shooting for clients including: Grolsch Inc, Audi USA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
February 22 - March 12
giftshop project space is pleased to present Torn LA, a solo show of unique ink jet prints by Chicago artist Colin Lyons. Torn LA showcases a suite of seven unique photographs all shot within four hours of each other on the streets of Los Angeles. These photographs deal with self awareness in both the contemporary art world and within culture on a whole, they also address the viewer's relationship to a moment and a juxtaposition between natural vs. unnatural elements.
The images are self referencing to the photographic process, by incorporating the piece of photo paper that the photograph is printed on into the image on its surface. The prints are made unique through the fact that they each have an edge torn off. Through this tear, the viewer is able to identify that the torn paper in the image is the same paper which they are currently looking at.
This special technique in which the photographs are made creates a new sense of time as the moment of photography and the moment of viewing are linked by the creation of the object. The object becomes unique in the sense that there can be only one copy on the torn piece of paper. The photo is also unique in the sense that it captures a single moment containing the torn piece of paper. Yet, this same piece of paper also exists in the moment of the viewer standing in front of the work.
This self awareness of mechanical reproduction and the synthetic mediations of viewing the world is reflected through the natural elements incorporated into the photographs. In addition to being shot over four hours, these photos were also shot as a group in front of the Gehry building that is Disney Hall. Many of the photos depict the contrast between the structure of the building and naturalistic qualities. They show trees, branches, even sections of figures. A hand here, a leg there, and a "LA girl" with sun glasses holding up one of the pieces of photo paper.
By contrasting these natural elements with unnatural components, the content of the photographs work in the same way as placing the torn photo paper in the compositions. In an increasingly manufactured society, one looses sight of their personal relationship to the natural world. By putting natural and unnatural elements together the viewer is once again pulled between moments. They are asked to address where they stand in relation to their modern sensibility to nature verses a synthetic environment.
Lyons specially sought out Los Angeles because according to the artist "Los Angeles simultaneously embraces and also rebels against is own success with the beautiful and superficial." Los Angeles deals with the creation of an image, in the sense that it manufactures culture that embraces youth, wealth, physical attractiveness, and other image based ideals. By presenting a photograph which shows the viewer how it is made within the context of LA culture, Lyons invites the viewer to question the means in which culture is manufacturing the environment in which these self aware photographs were made.
Colin Lyons graduated with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2005, with an emphasis in Photography and Visual and Critical Studies. He has been included in exhibitions at Three Seasons Gallery, Spudnik Press, Lloyd Dobler Gallery, and Butchershop/Dogmatic. Lyons is also a successful commercial photographer shooting for clients including: Grolsch Inc, Audi USA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
