Fall art preview in Ottawa

Ottawa Travel Guide

|

Tuesday, 16 October 2012 15:40

Ottawa's art scene has always impressed residents and visitors alike, and this fall is no exception, with Exposure Gallery and the Shenkman Centre putting on two spectacular photo exhibitions. Visitors who plan to travel to Ontario and want to get to know the capital's prominent art vibe may want to leave room in their itinerary for the chance to peruse the shows at these two galleries.

Eye Level at Exposure Gallery
Ever want to return to the good ol' days of youth when life's pressures were few and far between? At the Exposure Gallery's Eye Level exhibition, children under the age of 10 have put their work on display, giving viewers their perception of the world from their vantage point.

With the advent of digital photography taking the place of film methods, some kids are gifted with compact cameras before they even have a chance to learn algebra. With these documentation tools in their hands, children are able to capture images of what many adults leave unnoticed.

"Children seem to be fascinated by digital cameras and love to play around with them," said Stuart Kinmond, curator for the exhibit as well as a local architect and artist. "Without knowing it, they sometimes take pictures that are startling in their originality in terms of perspective and subject matter."

Attic Urchins at the Shenkman Centre
Surrealist photography is sometimes peculiar and has the power to make some viewers feel uncomfortable. At the Shenkman Centre, visitors can absorb the work of Jonathan Hobin, who stages photos to look like Victorian paintings, children reenacting Mother Goose stories or single-image depictions of complex narratives.

With his piece "Adam's Apple," Hobin stages a child in his pajamas and levitating in the middle of his nursery. In his right hand, he holds a half-eaten apple and stares intently straight into the lens of the camera. Even Hobin gives no clues as to what the photograph might mean, and lets the viewer have their own interpretation.

Another photograph, "The Ring," has a circular frame surrounding two children laying down with their eyes closed. The female subject is holding a bouquet of roses and is dressed in a fine white lace wedding dress. The viewer is forced to ask whether or not the subjects are sleeping, or perhaps have passed away.