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Galleri Image is pleased to present the exhibition
“Observance” by Nicola Dove, New Zealand
21 November – 21 December 2008
The exhibition “Observance” presents portraits of believers from a broad spectre of spiritual practices who Nicola Dove photographed on her journeys around the world. Doves' photographs of practitioners from a diversity of religions afford an insight into the characteristics of different religious faiths and movements. The exhibition presents on one hand the variety of peoples' spirituality whilst on the other hand focusing on religiousness as a universal experience. An aspect that all of these portraits share is that they show people in the moments where they are intensely searching for the spiritual or divine, as all of the believers have been photographed while reciting their different prayers. The sound of the faint recitations, songs or mantras, blending together creates an atmospheric aural background for the exhibition.
The images of the devout in prayer combines both a state of contemplation with an incredibly energy in the gaze of the portrayed persons. Dove uses the technique of long exposure in the photographs and in this way the people seem to be almost physically present and engaging the onlooker. The long exposure relates back to the earliest uses of photography and the conception of photography as a media that could capture the human soul. Nicola Dove´s photographs of religious practitioners whose intense gazes burn through the pictures seems to convey more than mere two-dimensional representations of the human body.
Throughout history various religious movements have been inspired or supplemented by the use of images. The differences in whether images are used or permitted and in the function of these images – if they are for instruction or inspiration, if the images are sacred objects for veneration or simply applied for ornament - depends on the various religions´ principles at specific times and places. With the exhibition “Observance” the focus is not on the gods or religious leaders of the different religious societies but instead the exhibition depicts the believers themselves as shining icons in their spiritual search for meaningfulness.
The exhibition “Observance” is the result of a three year photographic project by Nicola Dove and has been previously exhibited in New Zealand, London and at Lianzhou International Photo Festival in 2007. The exhibition in Galleri Image will be the first time “Observance” is shown in Denmark. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by Galleri Image with a text by Mette Kyhl Nielsen.
Nicola Dove (b. 1974) started her career as a photographer in New Zealand, where she took portraits and created covers for national magazines. In her work as a photographer she has travelled all over the world and her assignments have included documentary work for international aid organisations. Since 2002 Nicola Dove has been based in London where her work includes still- and portrait photography for the film industry.
Welcome to the opening of the exhibition on Friday the 21st of November from 16 to 18
Kulturudviklingspuljen Århus Kommune and Vilhelm Kiers Foundation have generously supported the exhibition.
Nicola Dove will be present at the opening of the exhibition.
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 13-17.
Galleri Image |
