Artist’s Talk and Opening Reception: September 12, 2013, 6 – 8 p.m.
Bau-Xi Photo
324 Dundas St West
After attending the Opening Reception I looked at a couple of Barbara Cole’s videos and realized I’d seen something about her years ago, likely the pieces done on her on fashion television.
Artist Barbara Cole in front of her work, Echo, from Duplicity, chromogenic print face-mounted to plexiglass, 80 x 53 inches
As a user of Photoshop to alter images, create effects in my photos and to paint portraits I am impressed that she is creating such beautiful effects without post production and that she has to because she can’t draw – as she says herself in the video Snapshot on her website.
Barbara Cole, Interval Lenticular from White Noise series, 72 x 48 inches
She imagines and invents the image in her mind, then shoots under water or down into the water from a platform to create what she wants. As the photo shoot progresses she finds more inspiration and goes with it to get even more beautiful images. Her photographs have a wonderful, painterly quality.
Barbara Cole, Crossing, Lenticular, from Duplicity, interlaced inkjet print with lenticular lens, 54 x 36 inches
The elements of large size, subject (beautiful young women), water, bubbles, the elements of mystery – the work pushes all the right buttons for our concept of beauty. I am reminded as I walk past her large scale images of postcards from my childhood that had the scene changing as you slowly turned it. Coupled with a “new” media with the use of lenticular lens this series of work emanates a relaxing and at the same time exciting freshness.
Visitors are admiring Barbara Cole, Impersonation, from Duplicity, chromogenic print face-mounted to plexiglass, 36 x 54 inches
Visitors with Barbara Cole, Swing, from Duplicity, chromogenic print face-mounted to plexiglass, 54 x 36 inches
The show is open: September 12 – September 28, 2013, Bau-Xi Photo, 324 Dundas St West, Toronto. Gallery hours: Gallery Hours: Mon – Sun 10 – 5:30 pm.
Text and photo: Margaret Irving