The show begins when I enter the room. Tseng Kwong Chi, ready to amaze, pulls the curtain back in a swift motion of pop-star grace. He draws to perform or maybe to fight, welcome or send away. I stand back in awe, excited and afraid. East Meets West beckons.
As I begin to walk through the exhibit, I am initially swept up by the photographs’ glamour. When photographing his tight circle of friends, this glamour is tinted with a provocative transparency. When photographing various pockets of capitalism’s elites, the glamour is satirical, witty and sharp. But as they are two sides of one coin, the aesthetic is the same—big, bold, excessive. As I turn a corner and pass his Costumes at the Met series, bright, glossy teeth sneer down at me from folds and folds of opulent, “east”-inspired fashions. I cringe at Chi’s Mao suit—how it’s geometric cut just almost blends into the event’s extravagant formality, yet stands out, unsettling me in its contrasting, dull grey. I continue. By the time I walk down a row of self-portraits featuring Chi in front of symbolic sites of capitalism, I admit, my brain sags. Though each series covers an independent angle to satirizing specific aspects of capitalism—exoticized fashion at the Met, blindingly narcissistic Republicans, tensions between communist and capitalist, temporal spaces—the photographs’ biting opulence and brazen, satirical messages simply start to blur.
As I stand, numbly staring at Chi in front of the Hollywood sign, something catches my attention. A small, dark figure rests alone and almost unnoticed, hovering in the reflection of the photograph’s framed glass. I turn around. There on the opposite wall, Chi sits on a small boat, his noble and reed-like figure bracing the misty, Vermont dream. I walk over, and am immediately pulled into the photograph’s hypnotic reverie.
Chi’s 1985 photograph, “Lake Ninevah, Vermont,” is from of one of his last projects, The Expeditionary Series. Working with his partner, Kristoffer Haynes, Chi delves deeper into the pictorial field, exploring the technological and artistic potentials of his, at the time, newly acquired, professional-quality Hasselblad camera. The series presents a stark contrast to his other work. Removing himself from the other series’ binary, but consistent glamour, Chi examines more ominous undertones of testy vulnerability. Of the series’ five, featured photographs, “Lake Ninevah, Vermont” is particularly unique. Unlike the other four photographs in which Chi’s placement is disruptive, startling and seemingly accidental, “Lake Ninevah, Vermont” harmonizes a Chi’s presence with his surrounding environment. It offers not a message, but a momentary window, a brief intimacy with the artist.
“Lake Ninevah, Vermont” holds an uncharacteristic softness. Like gazing through a crystal ball, the scene seems shrouded in a thin mist. Upon stepping closer, I notice that there is not a single hard line. The shoreline is defined by a thin release of white, the boat’s definition slightly blurs to its reflection—even Chi is hazy against the faintly shadowed hills. To further smooth the transitions, the photo’s contrast between the photo’s weighted bottom and upper stratosphere is even and perfectly gradual. “Lake Ninevah, Vermont,” mingles in the borderlands between the real and surreal. The hills are painted, using a a traditional, Chinese watercolor technique. In blurring the boundaries between photography and watercolor, Chi creates a hybrid world, sufficient within its own reality.
Venturing further into the in-between, Chi masterfully merges the space between the viewer’s “real” and the photo’s demi-fantasy. The weight of the bottom half bridges the distance between the viewer’s world and the photograph’s far-off shore. The photograph’s large portion of solid darkness creates a powerful illusion of depth. The black area seems to support the viewer—like she is standing right up against the mountain, forest, or building that domineers over the near side of the lake. Thus, the lifting light appears further and further away. The transparent, watercolor mountains seem to be of an unreachable, ephemeral space. In the middle of this, is Chi. Unaware of my existence, he teeters on the threshold between my changing, living reality and a far off, unplaced metaphor.
As I prepare to leave, I notice something standing in the lake’s glass reflection.
Me.
And others, and that Hollywood picture opposite the wall. We’re all there, sharing in the spectrum between our reality and that of the photograph’s. Though the photo’s imaginative space seems to exist, elevated above the ugly details of my time now, and his time then, I see that the two cannot be separated. Sitting in the glass of “Lake Ninevah, Vermont,” are also the reflections of his works in Hollywood, Checkpoint Charlie, and Brasilia. These too cannot be separated from his surrealist work; for ultimately, they are of the same of the origin. And finally, sitting in the glass of “Lake Ninevah, Vermont,” is the art museum.
518 Comments
Hi, happy day. I’m here to see Neagle I was very impressed to see it I think I’ll be visiting your page again I’ll be backhttps://mtygy.com
A commitment of appreciation is all together for the reliably steady exercise. Achieves the best outcome! The methodology worked for me because of the space people for the system. MyPaymentsPlus Login
Nice post, keep up with this interesting work. It really is good to know that this topic is being covered also on this web site.
igoal88 หวย
Thank you sharing informative blog, We are providing law related services if you need any help visit our page.
Thank you for sharing with tips and information with us, it’s useful to us to work on a my particular work. myfedloan
thank you for the blog and for the things you give us,
we are very helpful for the information and insights you have given us.
Don’t forget to visit our website too: JepangBET
Wow! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different subject
but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Great choice of colors!
Don’t forget to visit our website too: JepangBET
Great Article thanks for such a great information please do follow these articles. wecare rite and mcdfoodforthoughts.com survey
I believe it is a lucky site
정품비아그라
Enjoy my link and use this : Bandar QQ
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thx again!
오래된 토토사이트
I loved reading it. Thanks for sharing all these information, it’s so appreciated!
tesco survey
I loved how you approached Spectrum of the Real from a unique perspective in this blog post. It gave me a fresh outlook on the subject and left me with plenty of food for thought. Thank you for challenging my thinking! best logo contest sites
The Escorts from Marbella were friendly, discreet and provided a great night out!
Escorts Marbella
You put really very helpful information. สอบถาม hokabet Keep it up. Keep blogging.
Nice Blog!!! Thanks to Admin for sharing the above list. I visited many pages of your Blog. Really your Blog is Awesome. Keep Sharing such good Stories. Thanks.
Visit Now@ moldavite Rings
If you are having trouble solving crosswords in the wordle game, please see the wordle answer today page for today for solutions.
thank you for the blog and for the things you give us,
we are very helpful for the information and insights you have given us.
Don’t forget to visit our website too: Situs PKV Terpercaya
Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too taking time and real hard work to make a great article,
but I put things off too much and never seem to get started.
Thanks though: pkv games resmi
Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too taking time and real hard work to make a great article,
but I put things off too much and never seem to get started.
Thanks though: SGABET88
I have recently started a web site, the information you offer on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.https://alsooouq.com
Thank you for the blog that you have provided is very important for every reader of this blog.
Also visit our sites that can have a positive impact on you: dewapokerqq login daftar
meraih kemenangan besar di judi pkv tentunya sangatlah mudah ,
untuk menambah pendapatan kalian bisa klik link yang kami berikan ini : 8 dewapokerqq
Your blog has become my go-to source for inspiration! Your words always uplift my spirits and leave me with a smile. Buy business email gmail cost from business email gmail cost
What a fabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these. Thank you very much. LEGO Product Feedback
The blog that you write is very meaningful and very useful for us,
you can visit this link to add insight: situs judi qq emak
It is one of the best site that I have visited. Hope you will share more quality blog posts thank you.
Myeclass Login
the night piece is a symphony of sensory delights. The soft rustling crossover grid of leaves in the breeze, the distant laughter echoing through the air, and the occasional hooting of an owl create an orchestral melody that stirs the soul.
This is amazing. Thanks for sharing this blog. I have become a fan of your blogs. This blog is so interesting and informative.
Visit Now :- Moldavite Jewelry
Wow, amazing blog layout! How lengthy have you been running
a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The full glance of your website is great, as neatly as the content material!메이저놀이터
Emporia Reckless DrivingThe most informative post
Traffic Lawyer Suffolk VAThe most informative post.
Daftar situs slot hoki terpercaya gacor slot Jaring88 Menawarkan bonus berlimpah dan keberuntungan besar untuk pemain baru membuat Gacor Slot Jaring88 menjadi slot hoki terbaik di Indonesia maupun asia.
Bagi Anda yang menggemari permainan Judi Slot Online, pasti sudah tidak asing lagi dengan kata “GACOR” (Gampang Bocor). Bigo88 akan mendukung kalian dalam bermain slot online dari mana saja Situs slot online gacor adalah salah satu situs yang saat ini sedang sangat populer di kalangan pecinta judi online.
Bocoran Slot Gacor Hari Ini telah diakui sebagai Prediksi Terupdate dan Terpercaya diGame online Gaspoll88,, Kami juga bisa memberikan anda keuntungan besar hanya dalam beberapa putaran permainan saja, jadi anda tidak perlu takut mengalami kekalahan saat bermain..Ayo segera bermain dan bergabung dengan situs Gaspoll88 terpercaya dan sangat populer, anda dapat menjadikan situs Gaspoll88 Menjadi Slot Online tempat terbaik mencari cuan banyak dan cepat.
Agen Slot Bambu99 dikenal sebagai web judi provider terbesar di asia khusus nya di indonesia yaitu agen Slot99 yang telah berlanglang buana sejak tahun 2018 di Indonesia. Kepuasan semua bettor adalah visi dan arah kami didukung dari segi servis dan keamanan.
KUDABET Merupakan agen pertama Agen Slot Tergacor Di Indonesia, salah satu Situs bermain pemainan slot kini dapat dimainkan dengan aman dan nyaman melalui situs kami yaitu Kudabet yang memiliki banyak jenis permainan slot online, p0ker online, togel online, dan masih banyak lagi permainan lainnya,
Game Slot permainan yang merupakan Permainan viral dan merupakan jenis permainan NO 1 di indonesia yang tersedia di Madu88 pasti sensasional. Hanya Dengan Menggunakan 1 user ID saja Anda sudah bisa Memainkan Semua Permainan Yang Anda Di Game Slot Online Yang Kami Sediakan. Maka dari itu Anda tidak perlu khawatir akan mengalami kerugian selama bermain di situs Madu88.
Dewataspin akan memberikan anda infomasi terupdate dan terbaru seputar permainan judi slot online dengan Rtp Slot Gacor tertinggi hari ini yang ada di Dewataspin.
Untuk anda para pecinta game slot online yang mencari kemenanggan dari permainan slot pasti sudah tau dengan bocoran slot gacor yang di berikan setiap hari. Karena bisa dibilang saat ini sangat banyak pemain slot yang belum tau rumus slot atau pola slot gacor dari situs kami.
I find your blog informative and engaging. Thank you for sharing your insights with us
Misdemeanor Reckless Driving Virginia
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
Abogado Federal de Defensa Criminal Maryland
Abogado Criminal Federal Washington DC
The blog was how do i say it… relevant, ສລ໊ອດອອນລາຍ
finally something that helped me. สล็อตเว็บตรง
Thanks… Betflix wallet
The clarity in your post is simply spectacular slotxo wallet
Just want to say your article is as astounding. สล็อตฝากถอนวอเลท
i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. JILI WALLET
Fine with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. เว็บสล็อต 168 ฝาก ถอน true wallet
Thanks a mi… 918KISS AUTO
I’m very glad to see your article. PUSSY888 เว็บตรง