Michael Kenna: Ratcliffe Power Station / New Landscapes

Michael Kenna: Ratcliffe Power Station / New Landscapes November 5 — December 30, 2004

I first came across the industrial work of Michael Kenna in 1987, shortly after opening the gallery. His haunting photographs of the cooling towers at Ratcliffe Power Station in the Northwestern section of England proved to be amazingly memorable. With more than twenty books published on his work, Kenna is known throughout the world for his magnificent seascapes, gardenscapes and industrial photographs, many of which can be seen in his two newest books, Ratcliffe Power Station and Retrospective Two (both by Nazraeli Press).

For the past four years, Kenna has been traveling to Japan, photographing its seashores during all four seasons. The result of his continued efforts are photographs which bear his signature markings: water as smooth as glass, skies which are both menacing and calm, vistas which invite reflection and longing. Whether roaming the coastal towns of France, the shores of Easter Island, Japan or California, Kenna retains his ability to present images which are unapologetic in their beauty, transporting viewers to places often associated with unrealized desires or needs. This remains true for his newest pieces from Japan which continues his homage to a place of uncomparable spirituality and serenity. As he said in an interview in the January 2003 Photo Review:

"... There is a deep sense of history and intimacy in its (Japan) terrain. My home country of England has many similarities. Both countries are surrounded by water, both have been lived in for many centuries, and both have been extensively worked and explored. Remains of the past are everywhere... I am interested in how we interact with our environment and what we leave behind on the planet. I like to photograph traces of our past activities and I try to reflect the atmospheres that remain."

The same intent can be said for the work Kenna has done over the past twenty years at the Ratcliffe Power Station. Built in 1967, this coal-fired power station produces enough electricity to supply more than two million people, its eight monumental towers rising from a barren landscape, dominating the sky. In Kenna's images, we see a power station which is menacing yet seductive, dangerous yet inviting, its smoke creating scenes of immense beauty and peril. Whether photo-graphing nature or man-made structures, Michael Kenna creates photographs which resonate with humanity, both perceived and imagined.

All images are available as 8 x 7 1/2" toned gelatin silver prints mounted and matted on 20 x 16" board made in an edition of 45. Pieces range in price from $2000 to $7500, depending on where they are in the edition.

Please call: (312) 266-2350 for prices of specific pieces.
Prices are print only unless otherwise indicated.