 "Photo: Mary Kang/The Daily Texan")
Austinites often pass by the same buildings and landmarks every day without giving them a second thought or considering what they might mean for the rest of society.
“The Small Corners of Existence,” a collection of 18 prints by photographer Robert Shults, aims to change this.
The collection features images depicting aspects of architecture and design found on the streets of the Austin area shown from a new perspective.
After spending a few months living on the streets in 2001, Shults was forced to learn that refuge is often found in unexpected places. Inspiration for the collection came from these experiences.
“This body of work is my attempt to create a personal inventory, almost a sort of catalog, of the spaces one might use for temporary physical and spiritual shelter in the event of social or economic cataclysm,” Shults said. “For instance, the undersides of bridges, awnings and doorways, plazas of public buildings, alleyways and abandoned structures of our city.”
The images of these buildings and structures are presented in unconventional ways.
Buildings are shown turned sideways and parallel to the skyline, and slivers of fire escapes mix with their shadows to create a menagerie of lines and lights, reflecting off the edge of a building and creating intricate patterns.
However, most of the pictures in the collection depict only a piece of the structure being shown, which allows the viewer to look at the building as they would if they were very close to or, perhaps, living under it.
“The images in ‘The Small Corners of Existence’ were created with a sense of discord and dichotomy in mind,” Shults said. “They are often composed to appear fractured, and the frames are frequently split down the middle by a graphic element. This helps create a somewhat unbalanced feeling in the viewer, hopefully evoking within that person the same subjective state I felt while occupying these temporary shelters.”
The images featured in the exhibit derive their beauty not only from the subject matter and emotion behind them but also from the minimalism that was used in their production.
The collection consists of black-and-white photography, and the images themselves are mostly composed of simple shapes and elegant lines. The detail is derived from the contrast and lighting used, which produces such enthralling photographs.
Shults believes this use of black and white comes from “the fact that I perceive the world around me in terms of edge and form first rather than color and tone.”
While “The Small Corners of Existence” may have its roots in his personal experiences, Shults also hopes that his work helps viewers to understand and empathize with the people who view Austin architecture in this unique way every day.
The exhibit is located at the L. Nowlin Gallery at 1202-A W. Sixth St., open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1 comments