Light Works at NGV

Light Works at the NGV is a photoghraphy exhibition, with pieces ranging from photograms to large scale installations and digital light-based technologies. There were a few pieces that particularly caught my eye. The first were two Bill Henson photographs from his Paris Opera Project (1990-91). Untitled 31/85 (1990-91) is a large photograph. In the lower third of the composition is the dark silhouette of a forest, the focal point is a diagonal white blue flash of light, possibly lightning. The photograph is simple but very dramatic emphasised by the movement of the white blue light. The second Bill Henson was Untitled 36/105 (1990-91). The focal point of this photograph are the twilight orange clouds against dusty blue sky. They are obscured by silhouettes of trees and dark clouds in the foreground. This photograph has an almost sinister and drak feel to it, but at the same time it is very peaceful and serene. (click images for a larger view)

Bill Henson Untitled 31/85 (1990-91)

Bill Henson Untitled 35/105 (1990-91)

Another photograph in the exhibition was Adam Fuss' Untitled (1991).  It is a very large rectangular photograph, and the composition consists of many eliptical shapes that begin very large (cropped out by the edge of the frame) and continually get smaller towards the centre of the image, ending in a decent sized round white elipse in the centre of the image. The outer elipses are a very dark blue purple and they gradually get lighter towards the centre of the image. The photograph gives the impression of a tunnel and at the right angle the rings almost look like they are moving.

Adam Fuss Untitled (1991)