Philosopher’s Tree by Michael Kenna

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展览概述 | ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Michael Kenna是当代最重要和最有影响力的黑白风景摄影师。本次展览由香港Blue Lotus画廊策展，重点关注了Kenna本人最为关心的主题：树。在从事摄影的45年中，“缓慢”一直是Michael Kenna的行动哲学，相比于数字摄影，他至今仍旧更加偏爱胶片。在摄影时，Kenna有时会将曝光时间持续至数小时。他的所有相片都是自己在暗房里冲洗。优良的树木需要花费更多时间生长，具有强大适应力的树木则可以生存数千年。每棵树都有属于它自己的故事。凝视Kenna的作品，可以感受到一种节奏上的变化，以及冥想式的氛围。“哲学家的树”讲述了艺术家与树有关的童年故事，它诠释的是一种极简的美感，这种美感将使观者情不自禁地提出疑问：如果树可以说话，它会对我们说些什么呢？

Michael Kenna is one of today’s most important and influential black & white landscape photographers. This exhibition, curated by Blue Lotus Gallery, focuses on a subject most dear to Kenna: trees. Slowness is a philosophy that carries through all that Michael Kenna does. For forty five years he has worked with film and still prefers it to digital. Sometimes his exposure times last many hours. He makes all his own prints in his own darkroom. Good trees grow slowly, and those with strong resilience situated in good conditions can live for thousands of years. Each tree has its own story to tell. The viewing pleasure of Kenna’s work is likewise connected to a change of pace, close focusing, and a meditation of sorts. Philosopher’s Tree is the story of an artist’s childhood friendship with trees that has culminated in works that demonstrate the beauty of simplicity. One cannot help but wonder, if these trees could talk, what would they tell us?

云南，2013 | Bamboo and Tree, Qingkou Village, Yunnan, China. 2013

黑龙江，2011 | Broken Branch, Yangcao Hill, Heilongjiang, China. 2011

云南洱海，2013 | Erhai Lake, Study 1, Dali, Yunnan, China, 2013

云南洱海，2014 | Erhai Lake, Study 9, Yunnan, China. 2014

黑龙江，2011 | Falling Trees, Yangcao Hill, Wuchang, Heilongjiang, China. 2011

黄山，安徽，2008 | Huangshan Mountains, Study 13, Anhui, China, 2008

北海道，日本，2007 | Kussharo Lake Tree, Study 6, Kotan, Hokkaido, Japan, 2007

北海公园，北京，2008 | Lake Tree, Beihai Park, Beijing, China, 2008

黄山，安徽，2009 | Huangshan Mountains, Study 21, Anhui, China, 2009

安徽，2008 | Lake Bridge, Hongkun, Anhui, China, 2008

黑龙江，2011 | Tree in Snowdrift, Yangcao Hill, Wuchang, Heilongjiang, China. 2011

黄山，安徽，2009 | Huangshan Mountains, Study 26, Anhui, China. 2009

安徽，2007 | Reflected Tree, Hongkun, Anhui, China, 2007

黑龙江，2012 | Snow Clad Trees, Heilongjiang, China. 2012

云南，2013 | Tall Trees in Fog, Yunnan, China. 2013

北海道，日本，2005 | Tree Portrait, Study 5, Wakoto, Hokkaido, Japan. 2005

香港，2007 | Two Mangrove Plants, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.2007

新西兰，2013 | Wanaka Lake Tree, Study 1, Otago, New Zealand. 2013

北海公园，北京，2007 | White Stupa, Beihai Park, Beijing, China, 2007

艺术家简介 | ABOUT THE ARTIST

Michael Kenna1953年生于英国威德尼斯，距离利物浦仅有12英里的距离。Kenna在10岁时便开始向往一种禁欲的生活，并入读了艾藿蓝的圣约瑟夫学院。这是一所初级的神学院，旨在培养天主教牧师。Kenna在该学院就读至18岁，灵性与沉思构成了其教育的重要部分。随着青春期的到来，Kenna意识到成为牧师并非他的使命所在。他后来又就读于班伯里艺术学校（1972-73），最终毕业于伦敦印刷学院摄影专业（1973-1976）。1976年，Kenna来到纽约并第一次见识到画廊的繁荣景象，后来他便从英国搬到旧金山。为了生存他从事过各种工作，而其中最让他享受的是为西海岸著名摄影师Ruth Bernhard当助手的日子。在长时间的共同工作中，Kenna从Ruth Bernhard身上学到了大量与影印和冲洗有关的技术。

Michael Kenna was born in 1953 in Widnes, Lancashire, England, just 12 miles from Liverpool. At the young age of 10 he felt a calling to a more ascetic life and his parents enrolled him at nearby St Joseph’s College, Upholland. This was a junior seminary school and Michael trained to be a Catholic priest until he was 18. Spirituality and meditation were important parts of his education. Reaching puberty age, Michael realised the life of a celibate priest was not his vocation. He continued his studies at the Banbury School of Art (1972-73) and finally graduated in photography at the London College of Printing (1973-1976).  In 1976 he first experienced the art gallery scene in New York and a few years later he moved from the UK to San Francisco where, for a while, he took any job he could to survive. However, he particularly enjoyed his years assisting the famous West Coast photographer Ruth Bernhard. Kenna spent numerous hours working with her and learning from her to perfect the craft of analogue printing. 

展览信息| INFORMATION 

OPENING RECEPTION: 15 June: 6 – 9pm
EXHIBITION DURATION: 15 June to 01 July 2018
ARTIST Q+A & BOOK SIGNING: 22 June: 6 – 8pm
VENUE + ADDRESS: Usagi, 110 Shin Hing St, Central, Hong Kong
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Sunday 11am – 7pm

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