Tom Epperson, an American photographer based in the Philippines, will be presenting his first US solo exhibition, 12 Below, at Tyler Rollins Fine Art in April 2009.
In recent years, Epperson has been experimenting with the properties of ice, an unusual medium which is the inspiration behind this new photographic series. While watching a documentary about the possibility of a future Ice Age, Epperson began to wonder what would happen if another Ice Age were to begin this year. What objects from our civilization would the next generation find in the ice?
Epperson explains: “I decided to focus my story on one family, a Filipino family, and some of their most treasured belongings, most of which existed elsewhere, while some were uniquely inherent in the Philippines.” Examples of the frozen objects include the rosary, dried fish, sampaguita flowers and the balisong (a collapsible knife used for self-defense). Epperson juxtaposes these images to create an oblique narrative exploring issues of Filipino identity in our contemporary, globalized world.
Epperson continues: “The objective behind this theme is to show traces of other cultures in the Philippines while it continues to retain its own identity, a reality that one hopes to preserve despite changing eras and distant futures.“
The title of the exhibition refers to the temperature, -12˚C, of the industrial freezer where Epperson freezes various objects in large blocks of ice, some weighing up to 80 pounds. Before photographing, he transports the blocks to his studio, where he manipulates the ice using heat and carving tools to achieve the desired effect. He then experiments with lighting to highlight the refracting properties of the ice.
In 2005, Epperson became the first photographer to be given a solo exhibition at the Ayala Museum, one of the most important cultural institutions of the Philippines. Entitled One Light, the exhibition featured 55 portraits taken over the course of the past 20 years of people from all walks of life, shot using only one light source.
12 Below marks a dramatic new development in Epperson’s work, and we are delighted to present this exhibition at Tyler Rollins Fine Art as part of the gallery’s continuing focus on contemporary art from Southeast Asia.
Exhibition:
Dates: April 2 – May 9, 2009
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm
Opening Reception:
Date: Thursday, April 2, 2009
Time: 6 – 8 pm
For Further Information, Please Contact Nicholas Cohn:
[email protected]; tel. +1 212 229 9100
Tyler Rollins Fine Art
529 West 20 Street, 10W
New York, NY 10011
Tel. +1 212 229 9100
[email protected]
www.trfineart.com
