vivian cooper smith: patterns of the eclipse
14.08.24 - 15.09.24
vivian cooper smith: patterns of the eclipse
In his new exhibition ‘Patterns of the eclipse’ Vivian Cooper Smith draws inspiration from minimalism, science fiction, and new age aesthetics to challenge photography’s conventional boundaries. His work invites viewers to discover meaning not just in the subject matter, but in the haptic process of creation itself.
Central to Smith’s work is the model of an eclipse—a cosmic alignment that both obscures and reveals, casting shadows on Earth and creating spectacles for its inhabitants. Smith recreates this phenomenon within his studio, positioning the camera as the situated earthbound observer. Before the lens, an arrangement of geometric objects and paper cutouts intersect and obstruct one another in a fluid, ever-shifting composition. Light passes through this scene and encounters a diffraction grating on the camera lens where it proceeds to unravel and reform into an array of patterns and colors.
This studio-based methodology embodies ideas derived from the writing of Karen Barad, who proposes (among other things) that new ideas emerge not from opposing differences, but by working through and with them. Smith’s approach thus becomes a visual manifestation of Barad’s philosophy. Each object in his studio setup exists not in isolation but in relation to others. The resulting photographs stand as visual testaments to this worldview, where obstruction and intersection don’t hinder creation but become essential to it.
In essence, Smith’s work is a meditation on the generative power of difference and obstruction. It challenges us to see beyond binary oppositions and instead explore the rich patterns and insights that emerge when we allow diverse elements to interact with and inform one another.
Artist statement:
This exhibition has been one of the most challenging to create for various reasons. Time for studio experimentation has been limited, and my creativity has been challenged by a mind and body committed to and distracted by competing priorities. There have been many times when I have felt eclipsed. However, while it may be a disservice to Karen Barad’s work to suggest this, it remains no less true that obstruction and disruption can indeed create space for surprises and joyful outcomes. These photographs are the result of working with and through the challenges my art practice has faced in recent years.
