Corbusier House

'Construct: Art in Architecture' international, juried group exhibition in Darkroom Gallery, in Vermont, US is on the way...

I am very happy to announce that my photograph 'Corbusier House' has been selected by the jurors to be a part of this show. This time fully dedicated to architecture...

Corbusier House © Artur Sikora 

(...) Photographing the art of architecture; the anthropological implications of structural design (...)' (part of the description from Gallery website)

'Corbusier House' was made about a year ago in Berlin, during my trip dedicated to modernist architecture in this city. It is a part of a small project called simply 'Modernism in Berlin' (please click the link to see the project). 

I would like to come back here with my blog articles showing many photographs and some interesting information collected during research  made back then. I think it is worth to have a look at it if you have an interest in architecture and modern movement itself.
'Corbusier House' is in Modernism in Berlin - space for living article listed below.

Modernism in Berlin - Prologue:
http://artursikora.blogspot.ie/2015/05/modernism-in-berlin-prologue.html

Modernism in Berlin - along the Landwehrkanal:
http://artursikora.blogspot.ie/2015/05/modernism-in-berlin-along-landwehrkanal.html

Modernism in Berlin - space for living:
http://artursikora.blogspot.ie/2015/05/modernism-in-berlin-space-for-living.html

Modernism in Berlin - concrete sculpture and spaceship...
http://artursikora.blogspot.ie/2015/05/modernism-in-berlin-concrete-sculpture.html

Darkroom Gallery

12 Main St.
Essex Jct., VT 

US

http://www.darkroomgallery.com/ex82

Hours: Monday-Sunday 11:00-4:00 and by appt. 

Exhibit opens May 26th, and will run until 11 June.

Thank you!

...Birds

Just a short announcement related to my FB post this morning.  

Presented below photograph ‘Birds' has been selected for international juried exhibition - Black and White 2016 in PH21 Gallery in Budapest. 

Also the same photograph was awarded by the jurors with Honourable Mention. 

Fantastic beginning of the day.

‘Birds’ was made in my neighbourhood a few months ago while testing ISKRA, 6x6 foldable camera. Unique moment and unique place which is sadly disappearing now after so many years. Ongoing demolition is moving pretty fast…

Exhibition will take a place in PH21 Gallery, H-1092 Budapest, Ráday u. 55. May 5–31, 2016. 

…So my photography is going back to Budapest. Just a couple of weeks to go.

RHA 185th Annual Exhibition

My photography is coming back to RHA Gallery after a few years break. I feel very excited from early morning when message from RHA with this great news arrived :)
Below is a photograph which will be presented during 185th Annual Exhibition.

It is still one month to go but as usually I highly recommend it as one of the most important art events every year in Ireland.
Exhibition will be opened 25th of May and will run until 8th of August.

Here is also link to  article about my previous one, in 2011 -  'The Unit' .

Lines.../exhibition/

Last year about the same time my photograph 'The Mill' was a part of group exhibition called 'Illumine' in Darkroom Gallery, Vermont, US.
I am actually coming back there next month with one of my old pieces from 'Form' series. This time mentioned photograph (below) was selected for group exhibition 'Lines' which will take a place in the same Gallery in Vermont. 
Exhibition opens 26 of February and will run until 22 of March.

'Form' UCD campus, Dublin

On the photograph you can see bridge inbetween Newman and Tierney Building (UCD) designed by Andrzej Wejchert (1972), awarded Triennial Gold Medal 1971-1973 by The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. 
I wrote an article about this structure and its architect about 2 years ago. Here is a link so you can have a look at other photographs and get some information about it:
'Ubiquitous Concrete'  

Please don't forget to visit Darkroom Gallery If you will be around by the end of next month ;)
Thank you!

'Streets' - publication and exhibition by Seities

Long awaited copy of SEITIES magazine, winter issue with theme 'streets' arrived yesterday.
Absolutely wonderful independent publication supporting traditional photography.

Founded in Calgary 'SEITIES is a Non-profit Contemporary Photography Publication, Gallery, & Educational Organization. SEITIES aims to promote national and international artists by encouraging and supporting traditional methods of production in photography and giving an open platform to alternative analogue photographers who utilize traditional methods in their contemporary photography practices.' (info SEITIES)

Couple of months before that I received a message that 2 of my photographs will be published in mentioned winter issue. Also 2 of my pieces has been selected for exhibition which will take a place in Shelf Life Books in Calgary (Canada) with opening 14th of March while official  Publication Launch.
I feel truly honored as all photographs in magazine represents very high standard and are simply beautiful as magazine itself.

There are actually three photographs involved...
First one - Immortal 'Film House' which became almost my signature in the last years. The Winner of the B&W photographer of the year competition was published already several times in Ireland, UK, Poland and now in Canada. This photograph means a lot to me for many reasons. The most important one? It clearly explains my way of seeing...

Film House

Another published photograph it's one of the recent creations recorded on my favorite these days medium - Direct Positive Paper. Theme is still the same...streets of Dublin

Untitled

As mentioned before two photographs were selected for exhibition. 
Here comes 'Film House' again.
As only traditionally made photographs are accepted by SEITIES I had an opportunity to spend a few hours in darkroom working with my own negatives for a change. I chose  Fomaton MG Classic baryta based warmtone paper which gives truly unique look.
The second image sent to gallery (another recent creation), was an original  the one and the only print on direct positive paper (Harman/Ilford  glossy double weight baryta base paper) which you can see below.

Untitled

Both photographs (wet prints) were beautifully framed by J&J Framing LTD in Ranelagh.

All of it is really exciting and makes me believe that there is more and more people allover the world for whom traditional photography is important and means a lot. Thank you SEITIES!

Also please don't forget about the other group exhibition 'Illumine', where I am showing my work, in Darkroom Gallery (Vermont, US) which I described in previous post (LINK).


Thank you!

Illumine.../exhibition/

2011, 2012... very active period  with a few important for me exhibitions in London (B&W Photographer of The Year) and Dublin ('Coffee Flavour', Royal Hibernian Academy Annual exhibition, Inspirational Arts Gallery and Backloft Gallery). 

That was also the time when my son was born (second child) and I started to share my everyday duties in-between work and children. Not much of it left for purely creative activity. 
I had to slow down a bit...
I also had to gain some distance to my work and think what's next. 
Now I feel  like I am getting slowly to the end of this stage...
That's why I am coming back this year after over 12 months break...
About 2 months ago I released 'Coffee Flavour' photo album  and now there are also  two exhibitions on its way.
I had a sort of idea how to start motoring again but I have to admit that the way it happened really surprised me. Especially if we are talking about the time frame...

The Mill

'The Mill', as this is the title to above piece, it's one of my recent creations.
This photograph was selected for the group exhibition 'Illumine' in Darkroom Gallery, in Essex Jct, Vermont, US.
It is quite important event for me as for the first time my work physically will be shown outside Europe. 
Certainly it's not the last one as another exhibition in Calgary, Canada along with publication in Seities magazine is coming later this month.

Building you can see on the photograph it's a Bolland's Mill located on Barrow Street in Dublin /Ireland/.
Fascinating abandoned structure with an amazing power of attraction.
Image was made on Harman/Ilford Direct Positive Paper using 4x5 large format camera. Exhibited copy is printed and framed by the Gallery.

Now why Illumine?

'Every photograph is about light. Light, which is a plastic medium capable of being physically manipulated, is the key ingredient shared by all photographs and the determinant in the look of every photograph you make. Light’s primal authority defines the essence of a subject. The powerful glue that holds your image together, light makes known the emotional and physical contents within your visual space and activates vision and meaning. Every image provides a different set of conditions in which we can experience light. If the light does not inhabit and reveal the perceived nature of the subject, the picture will not communicate the content you wish to transmit to a viewer. In that sense, pictures are about what others are able to see in them.' Juror Robert Hirsch 

Exhibition opens tomorrow, 6th of March and will run until the end of the month, 30th of March.
If any of you will be around Vermont and especially Essex Junction, please visit Darkroom Gallery where lots of very good exhibitions taking place.

Gallery Info:

Darkroom Gallery

12 Main St.
Essex Jct., VT 05452-3132

Hours: Monday-Sunday 11:00-4:00 and by appt.
(802) 777-FOTO (3686)

'Close To Closure'

Fantastic opening of our group exhibition 'Close to Closure' last night. Really good selection of photographs. It was great to see you all there! Thank you!

Of course all of you who couldn't make it to the opening, you are more then welcome to visit Back Loft Gallery till 10th of July, the last day of the show.
You can see there my ‘Urban Stories’ series and also other wonderful projects by my friends, very talented photographers: Fiona O’Donnell, Monika Fabijanczyk, Sharon Murphy, Rebecca McGetrick, Calin Ploscar, Jeanette Lowe and Hugh McCabe.
Many thanks to Sean Hillen who opened this show making fantastic introduction, to all my friends photographers and especially Rebecca for organizing everything so perfectly ;)

Roll on PhotoIreland Festival! ;)

opening by Sean Hillen

last minutes

'Peripheries―Moments from the Side'

Full program of ‘PhotoIreland Festival 2012’ was just announced. All month with fantastic exhibitions around the town. 

It's actually started tonight ;)

20 x 20: 'Peripheries―Moments from the Side' exhibition in Inspirational Arts Gallery curated by Donna Kiernan.

'The theme ‘Peripheries – Moments From The Side’ explores the role of photography and it’s potential for capturing the everyday surrealism, humour and grace with which we live our lives in today's Ireland. All styles are included, from the staged to the opportune, and the carefully composed straight shot to the digitally transformed abstract.' (from official info)

I was invited to show there one of my photograph from ’Forms’ series. 

This exhibition will run from Friday 29th June to 13th July.

I would like to thank Donna for an invitation and also Ed and Jim from Inspirational Arts for wonderful job done with printing photographs and organizing exhibition.

 

That was tonight. Don't forget about Royal Hibernian Academy where you can see ’The Unit’ from ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’ series and of course ‘Close to Closure’ which will be opened 4th of July in Backloft Gallery. I will show there my  ‘Urban Stories’.

Hope to see you there!

"Coffee Flavour" - exhibition

"Coffee Flavour" is on the walls of Ranelagh Arts Centre Gallery. It’s doesn't really mean that the project is finished. I will definitely continue to work on it as long as I will have people happy to seat in the front of my camera with a cup of coffee...and they will be ready to expose their minds ;)

Most of you know what this project is about however here you can see a short note from the exhibition:

The idea of “Coffee flavour” project (carried on since 2009) was inspired by film “Coffee and cigarettes” by Jim Jarmusch. Presented series are portraits of personalities rather than people themselves, personalities shown through human thoughts and the moments in which they were born, quiet moments of contemplation.
Time with a cup of coffee itʼs time to focus and clear your mind, to hunker down and get ready for the day. It is simultaneously a wonderful way to relax and to lose touch with reality for a moment, time to slow down and recharge, time for “Coffee flavour “.

All presented photographs are silver-gelatin prints on Ilford Multigrade IV RC Deluxe Pearl paper. Printing itself took over a week which is quite a short time as for 21 prints. I am pleased with the result and appreciate all good feedback I received after all!

 

 

phot. Rafal Kostrzewa (three photographs above)

The opening night (07/11/2011 7pm) it was a very special event with lots of fantastic people. Thank you very much for coming in!!!
I would like to thank especially Mel, a good friend of mine for wonderful introduction, Sarah, David, Sara, and Terry from the Gallery, Sylwia, Artur, Bart and Luis for helping me before the opening and of course all models!

phot. Monika Sikora

phot. Edita Malenko

At the end fantastic underground video footage by Andy Sullivan. Thanks for that mate!

The Winner...

The time to present my winning entry in the competition mentioned already on my facebook webpage and twitter has come.
“Film House” is a photograph of the year in “Time” category by “B+W Photography”  magazine.

Film House

I had a really good run this year as five of my photographs were shortlisted in three categories of four I entered, including three images in “Time” category  (maximum amount of entries per one category). That was already a big success. 
 

This prize have a special meaning for me... “Black+White Photographer of the Year” is a very important international competition.
Beside that “Film House” is a statement.  It shows every aspect of photography I represent - subject, atmosphere and literally my devotion to celluloid (film photography).
It was already published in “Posi+tive” magazine, “Archipelag” magazine (as a cover for the article “passage of time”) and RedBubble blog with best street photography and photojournalism on RB. Now it is in B+W Photography magazine (November issue).

Below you can see my other four entries shortlisted in Black+White Photographer of the Year  2011 edition:  

Time category

James Joyce

Beehives

People category

People on the street

City category

Screen Cinema

My congratulations to all other nine winners!!! It was very good to meet you last Thursday (all off you who could attend the opening) and see your fantastic pieces. Well done!
Many thanks to organizers, sponsors (in my case it's Leica Store Mayfair) and first of all "B+W Photography" magazine!

footage from the exhibition opening night  (update 14/10/2011)

The winning photographs are exhibited at theprintspace Gallery, 74 Kingsland Road, London ED 8DL from 7 to 26 October.

theprintspace gallery, opening night

If you are in London or if you will be there in next three weeks please visit theprintspace!

...the Show

In about two weeks starts PhotoIreland Festival , the biggest photo show in Ireland. Great time for people who loves photography. Lots of wonderful events but Exhibition at National College of Art and Design, (2-4 of July) is the one I would highly recommend.(Full details HERE)

You will see there works of my colleagues, very talented photographers.

Various themes and media. 

I will exhibit there a little project ‘Modernism as a Memorial of Functionality and Form’ - 6 silver gelatin prints showing pure modernist architecture at its best.