1. Expert. Brian Lemond
literature and art magazine "Dirt" editor
The first thing that struck me about these images was how varied they are from a technical
standpoint, but how consistent they are in terms of mood - each image has a kind of
transcendental, almost mirage-like quality. I feel a bit like many of these images might find
their way onto album covers, some for hard rock bands, others for DJs. The good news there is
that this indicates a potentially very wide audience.
Some of the images are more successful than others, as a result of more convincing technical
resolution. For instance, the image of the lone figure in black is very cleanly and adeptly
rendered - the fact that it is so well done allows the viewer to fall into the image; any
erroneous detail on an image like this will act as a stop sign for the viewer, drawing their
attention and breaking the spell.
My favorite image of the series also holds my attention through technical skill - the image of
the fall-colored leaves mapped onto the woman's back is beautiful, and makes wonderful use
of depth, with the deep black background falling away beyond the figure, and the puffs of
smoke adding mystery. These puffs have the feeling of underexposed clouds, making it feel as
though the viewer might be floating and looking down on the figure from the sky.
Again, the least successful images, those with the bamboo ladder motif and the bright red hair
and eyes, also rely heavily on their technical execution - however these are less convincing.
The first image fails to draw me in because the bamboo motif doesn't integrate well with the
other elements, and feels applied, as though it's just resting on top; the second image just
feels muddy, like the artist had an idea, but never quite figured out how to represent it - or
perhaps changed the image dramatically in midstream.
Overall this set represents potential, and a clear sensibility about what kind of images the
artist wants to make. After so much talk of technique, that remains the most important and
promising aspect of this work.