Checking in at the front desk of The Photography Show, presented by the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD), the loud bark of a sweet Labrador, doubling as a security dog, set the room noticeably on edge. “You never know, it’s a crazy world,” a good-natured attendant remarked. In such divisive times, one thing we can agree on seems to be that the world has, in fact, gone crazy.
At this year’s show — running through the weekend at Pier 94 — you’ll find a diverse range of unusually young photographers reflecting on the reality of creating images in a world of extremes. Hyper-digital processes compete with techniques popularized in the 19th century, and caught between these opposing visions are a handful of photographers taking solace in timeless expressions of everyday life.
At Arnika Dawkins, Chicago native Ervin A. Johnson distorts tightly framed portraits of young Black faces in his series #InHonor, using additive collage-like techniques. Everything from paint splatters to dirty footprints give his portraits the look of distressed fresco paintings. Despite the current cultural popularity of “retro” aesthetics, these artists are not turning to lost processes to elicit a sense of nostalgia, but seem to be looking instead for clues or do-overs to shape a different presentErvin A. Johnson, “Joshua” from the series #InHonor (2015), on display at Arnika Dawkins Gallery
