Friday, March 6, 2020

Jan Tichy: Light Shop @Fridman Gallery

Located in the Bowery lighting district, Jan Ticky’s exhibition 
“Light shop” at Fridman Gallery adopts light as its theme. 
It explores the commodification of light in the shrinking commercial
district, as well as the interconnection of different forms of light.

Upon entering the gallery, visitors see ‘ Bowery Prints’ - a series of 
photograms printed on light-sensitive silver halide paper that showcase 
the interiors of the remaining light shops in the area. These monochromatic 
photographs demonstrate light in a bizarre way. On the one hand, the high 
contrast of black and white clearly outlines the physical light, lighting fixtures
as well as the shop’s interior decoration clearly; on the other hand, the stark 
contrast creates a sense of disorder, chaos and dizziness.


As viewers pass through a heavy blackout curtain, they find themselves 
in the realm of Instillation No.38. Neon tubes of various sizes and shapes 
are placed on two perpendicular steel tables as videos are projected onto 
walls behind them. A fascinating effect is created - although these neon tubes 
are illuminated, they also fracture and block sections of the projector's light
transmission, which casts shadows on the wall. Interestingly, these 
projections document the light from the storefront window of the gallery; 
transforming the natural light into artificial light through a process of re-projection.


1 comment:

  1. The "light theme" itself is a quiet appealing aspect of a exhibition. I've never seem someone do that before so it is kinda impressive to me. Ariel guides us through the show by words. As view pass through a heavy blackout curtain. This sentence really remind me of my experience viewing the shop. Ariel also points out one special aspect for the viewer that is the projected screen is actually the natural light from the storefront window of the gallery.

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