Overture: Idris Khan’s figurative translation of language
Idris Khan presents his upcoming solo exhibition Overture, revealing further interrogation of language through his practice.
London based artist Idris Khan exhibits in New York this September with some ambitious and exciting new work. Khan uses photography and digital images in his work but does not consider himself a photographer. He repeatedly layers these images, often text, to create a new piece, which is distanced from the original through the process of abstraction.
One of his more known work involved scanning every page of the Qur’an and layering the text into an image, bringing a figurative element to the writing while remaining almost readable.
Khan’s work reaches for a new perspective or a re-appropriation of an already existing visual cultural significance; he explores and interrogates language by working with text in this way. His work simultaneously addresses society’s shift on how photography as a medium is used. Khan has previously encountered the work of two German photographers and closely duplicated their photos, giving the new images new context and meaning. With the widespread use of smart phones as a photographic instrument documenting culture, the question of amateur/professional continues and images are easily available for hijack.
In his upcoming exhibition there is set to be a large-scale sculpture using panes of glass to overlap layers of text, casting an image onto the gallery wall. Khan will be exhibiting a wall drawing derived from what is cast by the glass, adding a performative element to an already complex multimedia body of work.
Overture Is opening at Sean Kelly Gallery, New York on 10 September 2015 running until 24 October 2015.
Idris Khan at Sean Kelly Gallery
Yener Torun uncovers Istanbul, one Instagram at a time
Yener Torun has made quite a name for himself on Instagram. His colourful profile is simplistically beautiful, showcasing an alternative view of the traditional Turkish city, Istanbul.
Yener Torun has made quite a name for himself on Instagram. His colourful profile is simplistically beautiful, showcasing an alternative view of the traditional Turkish city, Istanbul.
With a following of over 40,000 thousand on the photographic platform, 32-year-old Torun’s passion for buildings stemmed from his architectural background. His imagery captures a side to Istanbul even long term residents are unaware of, the brightly coloured buildings and geometric shapes tucked away beneath the layer of traditional.
Torun’s quest to hunt out architectural treasures began after he noticed how proficient Instagram was at bringing these rainbow buildings to life. He was able to give these hidden buildings, walls and geometric shapes new meaning, all with the help of his trusty iPhone. By escaping the one-dimensional, conventional side to Istanbul he believes he is able to provide a better understanding of the city, for his viewers, and himself.
His work displays his preference for modernist architecture, choosing to stay clear of the ancient scene most would associate with Istanbul. Favoring to photographing the business districts of Kavacik, Merter and Cevizlibag, his work also often taking him to other cities, such as Izmir, Bursa and Mugla.
Having lived in the city for 14 years, he has openly admitted that he does not consider himself to be an ‘architectural photographer’, and finding locations can sometimes be a challenging, mental exercise. One he is willing to participate in, as the city still manages to surprise him and reveal spots that are worth sharing with his 40,000 thousand followers.
Offering an alternative view of the historic Turkish city, Torun’s work not only captivates his viewers with bold colours, but also gives them an insight to a new realm of Istanbul. Tourists, and even residents, associate the city with mosques, old streets and traditional life, Torun’s photography demonstrations that there is more than meets the eye.
His attention to detail is understatedly clever, he coordination the colours of the walls, to the individuals that happen to be passing by. Reflecting both the energy of the architecture, and giving his human subjects a story by contrasting their clothing to the paint pallet like walls. Blending the buildings and the people brings the images to life; the elements juxtapose effortlessly.
It’s hard to ever imagine Torun’s Instagram profile as anything but a kaleidoscopic of vivid colours, but he began photographing like most. It wasn’t till he discovered the minimalistic beauty that Istanbul had kept a secret that he began letting his followers in on it too.
His profile not only stands out in the overwhelming amount of people using the platform today, it begs you to scroll further down, eyes glued to the colour that jumps out of the phone. Like an addiction, he’s hooked anyone who happen to stumble across his page, the images could be pages in a book, and deserve to be for that matter – perhaps a new project is on the horizon.
Heated Words: Initial Research of a forgotten typeface
Heated Words presents, Initial Research private view, an exhibition documenting the journey of a forgotten typeface across the subcultural movement.
Heated Words presents, Initial Research private view, an exhibition documenting the journey of a forgotten typeface across the subcultural movement.
The exhibition, which will display photography and ephemera, is solely focused on a specific, unidentified typeface that exclusively existed as iron-on flock lettering.
The typeface has made predominant appearances within the documentation of subcultures between the early 70s to late 80s, appearing on items of D.I.Y clothing and used by: Little League teams, Street gangs, B-Boys, Punks, Pop artists, Pop stars, Disco dancers and the entire squadrons of the Double Dutch skipping troupes.
Heated Words aims to illustrate an ongoing investigation to uncover the true identity of a folk-lore typeface that never made it to the post analogue era. The discovery of this typeface involves some of pop cultures most influential individuals, locations, brands and central moments in history.
The Clash, Biz Markie, Ramellzee, Big Audio Dynamite, Rock City Crew, Furious Rockers and the Ebonettes all have a connection with this typeface, and make an appearance within Heated Words.
Located at multi use creative space, House of Vans, in the heart of one of the world’s most creative cities, London. The 3,000sqm space is devoted to encouraging evolving talent, across cinematic, artistic and musical areas. The creative space is free, and open to all who wish to attend.
Heated Words: Initial Research | March 27th to April 10th, House of Vans, London.
Private view - Thursday 26th April 2015 | 7 – 11pm