From selfies to arty landscapes to pictures of pets, photography is such an inherent part of our everyday lives. But what happens when you strip it back to basics?
Photography has continuously been re-defined by new technologies and formats. From Colour photography to digital darkrooms it is an ever changing medium. Photographers experiment with all both new and old perspectives on subject, composition and style to great effect. To capture the magic in mundanity takes talent, and Nan Goldin, Olafur Eliasson and Richard Heeps have this in abundance. At Art Republic, we celebrate photographers who can take an everyday snapshot of reality, and elevate it to new heights.
Non-stylised, insular and self-reflective, Goldin, Eliasson and Heeps take photography back to its natural and intuitive form. Whether that be images of their friends, their passions or their environment, these three talented photographers are dedicated to capturing the truth through photography. Capturing their surroundings without expectations or prerequisites, the photographers included in this show capture the simplicity to be found in our environment.
As discussed in Susan Sontag’s transformative book ‘On Photography’, photos are fragments of reality, providing viewers with a window into unfamiliar worlds. Breaking down borders and promoting transparency, the photographers in this Viewing Room have eliminated the boundaries of art; they are free to capture their art without expectations.
If you’re a fan of stripped back photography that relishes in the detail, then you’re sure to love these artists.
Richard Heeps is a British-born photographer celebrated for his distinct saturated style. His vintage-hued colour palette adds another layer of charm to his artworks. Paying homage to Americana imagery and the carefree nature of the so-called American dream, Heeps’ art pushes the boundaries of photography. Depicting the everyday surroundings of middle America but, Heeps bridges the gap between his contemporary audience and the traditional elements of lens-based photography. Heeps embraces the magic of nostalgia and elevates his snapshots of American reality to new heights.
Heeps has a longstanding interest in art, painting and photography, having first shown work in exhibitions from the age of ten. The artist’s fascination with New York during his youth was the starting point of his fixation on everything Americana, a fascination only emphasised by his visits to the country later in life. Heeps has been exhibiting his work since the 1980s, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since, showing internationally at museums and public galleries such as Milan’s Affordable Art Fair, The Photographer's Gallery in London, and the Royal Academy of Art’s Summer Exhibition. Discover more of Heeps' artworks for sale here.
Nan Goldin is an American artist best known for her portrait photography. Focusing on the members of the LGBT community and the subcultures of the HIV crisis and opioid epidemic, Goldin’s intimate photographs capture the struggles of marginalised groups with such simplicity. The candid and intimate nature of Goldin’s images take photography back to basics, using her medium as a deeper exploration into her personal relationships. Goldin says of her affinity for photography: “For me it is not a detachment to take a picture. It’s a way of touching somebody - it’s a caress. I think you can actually give people access to their own soul.”
Goldin’s artworks are currently held in various collections worldwide, including, but not limited to, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. She has won numerous awards, including the Royal Photographic Society’s Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship. Discover our collection of Nan Goldin artworks here.
Olafur Eliasson is an Icelandic-Danish artist that works in a variety of mediums. From large scale sculptures to intimate landscape photography, Eliasson has focus: his environment. Eliasson’s photography in particular takes the expansive nature of the Icelandic landscape, and transforms it. Using repetitive imagery in a grid-like pattern, Eliasson uses the mundanity of the Icelandic topography to his advantage, instead playing with angles, birds-eye shots and film-strip progressions to imbue a sense of character into his photographs. Eliasson’s artwork is a love letter to his childhood surroundings. Explore Eliasson's collection of works here.
Have we intrigued you? Take a look at our extensive collection of stunning photography prints. If you need a bit of guidance, have a read of our article '6 Perfect Prints for Photography Lovers'.
