Originally from Northern Alberta and now based in New York City, Lehmann creates montages that re-negotiate the conventional process of developing photographs in the darkroom. He begins by layering different images on top of one another then turns the lights on, breaking a fundamental rule of working in a light-controlled environment. Lehmann has to move quickly to stop the process, by doing so, the compositions that arise are both vivid and surreal, capturing what is often dismissed right in front of our eyes.
Karl Stittgen has never been afraid of making mistakes: the artist made many of them when he first taught himself to craft handmade jewellery. He saw accidental beauty in each imperfection and turned them into one-of-a-kind works of art. Each piece reflects the rough nature of the materials, and over time his imperfections became part of an intentional design, garnering him many awards, a devoted following, and an international reputation.
Quiet Presence brings together two artists who take a unique approach to asking many of the same questions. Karl Stittgen’s organic surfaces express a distinctive quality to his stoneware vessels and towers, incorporating the philosophy of Wabi-sabi, a Japanese word translated as the beauty of imperfection. Each piece utilizes cracks, blemishes and rough edges to expose the innate beauty of the raw material. Richard Lehmann creates montages from photographs of historical facades and architectural statues in Paris and New York, transforming them in the darkroom into exciting new compositions. The two bodies of work complement each [...]
