“In his ongoing series Until the Kingdom Comes, begun in 2004 and first shown at the gallery in 2006, Simen Johan depicts a natural world hovering between reality, fantasy and nightmare. Merging traditional photographic techniques with digital methods, Johan’s images are crafted over time and may include a synthesis of landscapes from various geographical locations and animals photographed in captivity or in the wild.
An albino deer is camouflaged in a lattice of trees, shadow and light in one image; in another, a weeping willow is enshrined in an apocalyptic fog. Two of Johan’s recent sculptures incorporating feathers, insects and foliage into miniature ecosystems will also be included in the show.
In his work, Johan blurs the boundaries between the real and the unreal, re-imagining worlds that, much like our own, are forever a mystery. Majestic animals in fantasy landscapes are set in relief against a darker reality. The work addresses primal experiences, shaped by desires and fears—solitary paths towards imagined fulfillment.” (read more).
• Feb 12, 2010 link notes tagged: art photo photography animal monster dark
