Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin: The Land Before You

September 1 - October 11, 2010 Opening Reception: Thu, Sep 2, 5-7pm For more information regarding this exhibit, please call 212.415.5597. Date & Time: Thu, Sep 2, 2010, 9:00pm-7:00pm Location: Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street Directions Venue: Weill Art Gallery Code: T-NN0TC65-01

Artist Statement

I look for visual metaphors in the landscape. My photographs of dramatic cloud formations, sinuous bodies of water, or sensuous trees and foliage articulate my appreciation for the mystery inherent in our world. I use black and white infrared film because it captures both the visible spectrum and the infrared light that lies beyond what the human eye can see. This medium accentuates the contrast between light and shadow, enhancing our sense of the unknowable and the mysterious and underscoring the limitations of our perceptions. And yet, I continue to explore what I see before me, seeking more information and understanding, even though I realize that this is akin to contemplating infinity—by definition, one can never actually arrive at that point—one can only approach it. We face all the restrictions of the human condition. But when, upon viewing a scene before me, I am filled with a sense of awe, I attempt to "get my arms around" what I see. I try to capture the essence of these feelings with my camera, later working to fashion my expression in an effort to faithfully commit to memory what I perceived. Behind all of this, too, lies the struggle against impermanence and a resistance to loss.