Mitch Epstein at Yancey Richardson

Mitch Epstein Discovers the Art of Time Traveling


Mitch Epstein
Rocks and Clouds
Yancey Richardson Gallery, NYC
Sep 8 – Oct 22
cloud-33-2015
As you walk into the magnificent bright and neutral space at Yancey Richardson Gallery, the utmost experience of being human immerses. With “Rocks and Clouds” Epstein manages to create an atmosphere where one is suddenly surrounded by grand nature, the thoughts of existence and the meaning of the world. The point of view Epstein places on the subject matter brings the viewer to an exact location; he draws you in not only with these incredible landscape views but also with the feeling of eternal immensity. He accomplishes the magic of placing the observer in his vision as if the viewer and the artist were one. The experience of seeing these enormous prints, almost human size is so spectacular that one can only agree it feels as if the art of time traveling is taken place in the space.
cloud-95-2015
In his cloud images, he depicts them so intensely high up, it feel as if one is floating in the atmosphere. On one image in particular, there are minuscular black dots that beg for inspection. As you get closer to examine them, you can identify them as airplanes. The moment you recognize them a disorienting shift in scale occurs and the fact of being human becomes so small we are left to consider our own existence. In an instance Epstein places the viewer walking directly into the horizon on a stormy day at a bridge of rocks on a beach. The image – so well constructed with nature meeting the viewer – resonates a feeling of danger as if the ocean was about to take over one’s sanity.
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Epstein series “Rocks and Clouds” is an exhibition worth seeing over and over. By evoking attention on the human need to harness nature on the elemental structure of architecture, Epstein manages to, drag you into this an immersive world of scenes where one can only hope to experience something so magical.
by Erika Fernandes