I am very excited to announce “Sottobosco”, my very first Solo Show, at Smokestack Gallery in Hamilton, Ontario.
This is a real milestone for me and a wonderful opportunity to have a full portfolio of my work on display.
It is incredible to see these images in real life rather than on a screen ; in particular there is a special new image ("Verdure") , captured by the amazing PhaseOne IQ4 150mp Camera, and printed at a gigantic 40 by 60 inches! The scale and level of detail are difficult to convey without seeing it in person.
Also on view will be a collection of my recent work from the series Sottobosco. You can read more on the Smokestack Gallery website.
From the exhibition release:
Kristin Sjaarda employs photography as her choice medium through which to investigate the intricacies of the urban ecosystem. Studying the life cycles of flora and fauna around the neighbourhood in Toronto where she lives and works, Sjaarda collects natural specimens directly from the environment to be arranged and captured as still life photographic images. Informed by the still life paintings of artists from the 17th century Dutch Golden Age (the cultural lineage of her personal ancestry) Sjaarda’s work conveys elements of the natural world in dramatic realism.
Sottobosco [The Forest Floor] presents selections of Sjaarda’s more recent works that reflect the influence of one particular 17th century Dutch painter: Rachel Ruysch. Acknowledged as one of the most accomplished still life painters of the era, Ruysch’s contributions to the genre are enveloped in her exemplary demonstration of the Sottobosco tradition. A sub-genre of still life, Sottobosco (also known as ‘forest-floor still life’) defined artworks that represented a significantly more expansive portrayal of the ecosystem where less idyllic elements of the undergrowth appear prominently alongside vibrant florals in full bloom.
The Forest Floor (Sottobosco).
October 14th to November 11th at Smokestack Gallery, 270 Sherman Ave N, Hamilton, ON
Opening on Friday, October 14, from 5-8pm
Curated by Tara Westerman.
