Part of Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival 2018
https://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/2018/open-exhibition/gallery-1313-the-sound-of-silence
This photo series was born during the summer of 2017 in the remains of a Parkdale parking garage. The multi-level structure, constructed in 1964, had become unsafe and the decision was made to raze the building. The demolition continued from Spring to Fall, creating a prolonged clamour that impacted the surrounding streets and homes.
As concrete and metal were ripped apart and bricks were extracted one by one, David was struck by the beauty of the fading building. The image of a giant being tackled or a dragon being slayed came to mind. In the evenings when the work stopped a sublime silence ensued. Dust settled and there was a sense that the building was resting on its crumbled haunches, awaiting the next attack. Light eased in through the open sides of the abandoned structure from the setting sun, creating dramatic shadows and a haunting cathedral-like hush. As the massive structure slowly collapsed, the strong pillars groaned in place, still bearing the weight of the floors above. David’s photos expose the scarred walls, torn concrete, twisted rebar and piles of rubble.
Years of accumulated graffiti remained on the walls, some whitewashed, but mostly still visible. The walls tell their own stories. The endless rows of white columns, roughly numbered, seem like grave markers in a derelict cemetery. Beneath the crumbling mass, a flooded basement resembles an eerie green lake; a buried secret. A sense of beauty and stillness in the sound of silence that is paradoxically present within the din of the city enveloped the chaotic site.
About the Artist
David is interested in observing, collecting and reflecting the visual cacophony of urban life. He collects images and textures from objects that have been discarded, walls that have been tagged and posters that have been covered and torn. David views his work as contemporary landscapes that reflect the experience of living in an urban environment, and encourages viewers to consider traces of human activity by translating basic senses into the visual realm.
David Brown graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1992. He has a 25 year award winning career in the international art and design industry. David’s work has been shown at numerous galleries and museums across Canada and the U.S. His paintings and photos are held in private and corporate collections in North America, Europe and Asia. The products he designed have been sold across North America, and his compositions have been published in books and magazines throughout Canada and the United States.
http://www.encausticcollage.com
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Gallery 1313
1313 Queen St W Toronto
Opening Reception
April 26, 7-10pm
Gallery Hours
Wed-Sun, 1-6pm