Gary Oldman, Parasol, New Mexico, 2009, Archival Digital Pigment Print, 88.9 x 227.3 cm
© Gary Oldman, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery
Gary Oldman’s photos, captured using a Widelux swing-lens panoramic camera, are on display alongside paintings by long-time friend George Blacklock at the Flowers Gallery in East London.
According to the gallery, the English-born actor has described the use of panoramic images as ‘inviting the viewer to become immersed within the viewpoint of an alternate subjective persona’.
In a statement, the gallery added: ‘Photographing from the sets of films such as The Book of Eli (2010), and Child 44 (2015), Oldman navigates away from the centre of the action within each scene, concentrating on the discreet details occurring at their edges.’
The ‘Slipping Glimpsers’ show, which runs until 14 May, aims to explore the ‘mutual creative threads’ connecting Oldman and Blacklock’s ‘distinct artistic practices’.
Gary Oldman, At The Table, Prague, 2013, Archival Digital Pigment Print, 88.9 x 190.5 cm, © Gary Oldman, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery.
The pair met when Oldman was researching a role for 1986 film Honest, Decent and True when the actor visited the artist’s studio (Blacklock’s paintings were used as props in the film).
The gallery added: ‘Oldman’s lesser-known practice of photography focuses on an exploration of the medium itself, from tintypes and ambrotypes with a wet-plate portrait studio camera, to capturing behind-the-scenes pictures of actors, crew and film locations with a Widelux camera.’
Oldman’s photographic work has previously been displayed at The Kennedys Museum in Berlin, Germany, in 2012.
The exhibition’s title ‘Slipping Glimpsers’ is derived from a quote by expressionist painter Willem De Kooning who, when referring to his consistent attempt to capture an elusive quality in his paintings, said: ‘That is a wonderful sensation… to slip into this glimpse.’
Flowers is situated at 82 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DP. Tel: 020 7920 7777.
Gary Oldman, Backseat, Prague, 2013, Archival Digital Pigment Print, 88.9 x 190.5 cm. © Gary Oldman, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery
Gary Oldman, Reflection, New Mexico, 2009, Archival Digital Pigment Print, 88.9 x 228.6 cm. © Gary Oldman, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery
Gary Oldman, Self-Portrait, Albuquerque, 2015, Archival Digital Pigment Print, 91.4 x 228.6 cm, © Gary Oldman, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery
