Walking the other day at Oxford Garden’s blooming trees, one of the best West London areas, past the famous Lichfield Studios – being under renovation and full refurbishment, particularly the outer part, I enquired whether there was any exhibition on, and woooow, what a surprise: The Tristan Hoare and Wilmotte Gallery was presenting this unique in style Rose Klabin’s* work under the themes Corporate Identity and Rise & Fall. In both series the use of photography in an innovative way integrate the subject matter into he production of the art work.
The first Series “Corporate Identity” saw Rose spending two weeks at a paper factory in the south of Brazil. First she captured images of the machines at work in the jungle, using raking angles to highlight the vast industrial structures in the forest. She then photographed the reforestation reserves around the factory and superimposed these over the original images. The results are then printed on paper produced at the factory.
The vibrant greens are evocative of Brazil’s vitality and in 6 images the viewer is taken by conveyer belt through a canopy of trees and seen crashing to the ground as the machines tear through the landscape. “Corporate Identity” works on many levels, looking directly at corporate responsibility, man versus nature and sustainability as Brazil emerges as a powerful economic force.
Her most recent series “Rise and Fall” is the result of extensive road trip through the south of the USA. Rose documented the impact of t sub-prime mortgage crisis, compiling over 5, 000 images of abandoned hoes. Back in Brazil she documented the other side of the coin, focusing on the huge construction boom in Sao Paolo. “Rise and Fall” is the result of overlaying these conflicting realities to create a third, more abstract vision. The images are then printed on insular sheets, a material used in construction.
Cranes, power lines and steel structures clash with abandoned buildings and for sale signs. At one point I thought was in port which building where close to the berth… Weeks of documentation are condensed and a new reality is constructed. We are reminded of the cyclical nature of market forces and economic trends, “This too will pass”.
The exhibition at 133 Oxford Gardens is open until Friday 13th of July 2012 and it is highly recommended!
* Rose Klabin was born in Rio de Janeiro. Rose lived in New York and London and graduated from Cental Saint Martins with an MA in Fine rts. She has since moved back in Brazil where he investigates conteporary Brazilian life, with a particular interest in corporate culture.
