Magical Surfaces:
The Uncanny in Contemporary Photography
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
On until 19th June 2016
LAST CHANCE TO SEE!
Just a quick heads up that the exhibition Magical Surfaces: The Uncanny in Contemporary Photography, at the always-interesting Parasol unit gallery in Islington N1, is closing soon. There is only a week left to catch this excellent photography exhibition which takes work from seven contemporary artists – Sonja Braas, David Claerbout, Elger Esser, Julie Monaco, Jörg Sasse, Stephen Shore and Joel Sternfeld – and explores the concept of the uncanny in photography.
The uncanny is a difficult sensation to pin down but you know it when you feel it. Many of the images in the Magical Surfaces show do a good job of summoning that elusive sense of discomfort and unease. Among the best is 2729 (2012) from Jörg Sasse, an eerie landscape that treads a line between what is real and what is imaginary.
But the standout piece of the show for me is a fantastic film from David Claerbout which digitally reconstructs a 1950s black and white photograph of a pre-stardom Elvis Presley. The film, KING (after Alfred Wertheimer’s 1956 picture of a young man named Elvis Presley) 2015-16, seems to bring Presley back to life in 3 dimensions and takes us on an intimate close-up tour around the photograph. Brilliant and utterly mesmerising.
Catch Magical Surfaces before it closes.
All photographs ©The London Art File
Magical Surfaces: The Uncanny in Contemporary Photography
Closes 19 June 2016
Admission: FREE
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 12 – 5 pm
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
14 Wharf Road / London / N1 7RW
020 7490 7373 / info@parasol-unit.org
The London Art File 