The artwork portrays a striking black and white image of a cluster of wild, feathery plants against a plain background. The composition is dominated by the sharp, elongated shapes and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, creating a sense of movement and energy. The photographer has employed a distinctive technique, likely using a camera lens to capture the delicate details and intricate patterns of the plant forms. This stark, minimalist image reflects the artist's keen eye for the natural world and their desire to highlight the inherent beauty and abstract qualities found in everyday flora. ...
Lisa Oppenheim's work is heavily inspired by research, particularly in the history of photography. Oppenheim utilizes various research methods, such as exploring photographic archives, libraries, collections, and online resources as starting points for her layered and sometimes starkly abstract work. Through delving into documentary archives, investigating the neglected outtakes of renowned photographers that were removed from the historical record for various reasons, Oppenheim collects and resurrects them in her imagery. These obscure finds and missing links also have technical parallels in her work. Oppenheim's images often feature fragments and experiment with exposure, suggesting the nuances of what is visible and invisible, revealed and concealed by the camera's mechanics. Her multifaceted work encapsulates photography's most intricate function: the ability to remain entirely silent while appearing to describe the world in infinite detail. ...
The Approach is co-directed by Jake Miller and Emma Robertson. Located in Bethnal Green above The Approach Tavern, for over twenty years it has operated an internationally recognised programme from its East London base. The gallery is known for discovering artists and establishing their careers as well as making inter-generational curated group shows a strong focus. The list of represented artists includes the Estates of important overlooked female artists Heidi Bucher and Maria Pinińska Bereś, as well as seminal British collage artist John Stezaker, together with established and emerging artists including Magali Reus, Peter Davies, Lisa Oppenheim, Sandra Mujinga, Pam Evelyn, Sara Cwynar, Sam Windett and Caitlin Keogh. Over the years the gallery has operated parallel programmes in additional gallery spaces in London’s West End (The Approach W1) and in Shoreditch (The Reliance). The gallery is currently based solely in its original East End location and continues to expand its programme, showcasing its represented artists in the main gallery space, and both represented and non-represented artists in The Annexe, a smaller, more experimental space at the back of the building. ...
