 Untitled, 1972 C-Print, 4 x 6 in, 10,2 x 15,2 cm Stephen Shore Sprüth Magers Lee is proud to present the first solo exhibition in the U.K. of Stephen Shore's colour photographs. The show will include works featured in this year's "Cruel and Tender" exhibition at Tate Modern, in addition to previously unpublished photographs. Shore's career began at the early age of fourteen, when he made the precocious move of presenting his photographs to Edward Steichen, then curator of photography at MOMA. Recognising Shore's talent, Steichen bought three of his works. Three years later Shore met Andy Warhol and asked if he could spend time in "The Factory", documenting what he saw. His years at "The Factory" influenced his vision and interests - he became more aware of the phenomenon of mass and popular culture and the strengths of serial imagery. Aged twenty-four he became the first living photographer to have a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in New York with his black and white conceptual works. Although interested in colour photography through his postcard collection, up to this point Shore had worked solely in black and white. It was a remark of disappointment by an acquaintance that immediately spurred him to work in colour, the field in which he has dominated ever since. In 1972 Shore left New York and embarked on his first road trip around America. The resulting series - "American Surfaces" - (taken with a 35mm camera) is a vivid depiction that details the traces of the American life he saw around him. Shore fastidiously recorded every detail, from his sandwich to a dirty floor. Each view receives the same impartial treatment, revealing his democratic approach to subject matter. The everyday carton of milk becomes quietly monumental. "American Surfaces" inspired Shore to take further road trips throughout the 1970's, which culminated in "Uncommon Places" - larger format pictures taken with a viewfinder camera. The majority of the images selected for this exhibition are urban landscapes devoid of human presence. Critics have commented that these scenes of abandonment are reflective of the American psyche (this was the post Atomic bomb generation, the time of the Vietnam War and a period of economic depression). These almost mournful, yet alluring scenes of urban wasteland alert us to the increasing commodification of the American landscape. It has been said that Shore's outlook has influenced an entire generation of photographers - most notably the Düsseldorf School. In spring 2004, Aperture will publish a comprehensive book, including over 100 plates, from Stephen Shore's "Uncommon Places" series. Exhibition: December 4, 2003 - January 20, 2004 Sprüth Magers Lee 12 Berkeley Street UK-London W1J 8DT Telefon +44 020 749 10 100 Fax +44 020 749 10 200 Email info@spruethmagerslee.com www.spruethmagerslee.com |
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