Nancy Holt Photoworks is currently showing at the Haunch of Venison in New Bond Street until August 25th.
Nancy Holt began working in the late 1960's as part of the Land Art Movement she is probably best known for her large scale site specific works such as 'Sun Tunnels' 1973-6 positioned in the Great Salt Desert Utah. This exhibition we see her works on paper in the form of photographic images for the first time in the UK.
I'll begin with Sun Tunnels there is a strong sense passing time consolidated into one image. Through repetition of imagery we see the static frame changing during a day which can be difficult to understand if you look at the work in situ. It was interesting to come face to face with this collection of work as Nancy Holt appeared in my very first presentation during my MA as an example of monumental scale, light, time, and the context in which she worked within was relevant to my own research. Land art was the first group to take work outside and remove it from the confines of the white cube gallery spaces along with Robert Smithson, Richard Long, James Turrell to name a few... During this time there was a cross over between Minimalism and Conceptual Art with artist such as Richard Serra also pushing materiality, scale and space. Although there was a common strand of thinking during this time it's interesting how Nancy Holt executed her work. it's evident to see there is a fascination with the circle the view the focal point the curve which immediately pulls you in and focusses your own attention as the viewer.
These images were presented in the first room and has to be my personal favourite as it appears to hinge her body of work and from this it is clear to see how her thinking began the develop.
Repetition in the form and structure, space and spaces created using multiples. A clean slightly brutalist aesthetic in materiality and the idea of framing a view or focussing in on a particular viewpoint instantly resonates though out the following rooms.
Take a look at www.haunchofvenison.com there is an interesting interview with Nancy Holt about this exhibition. It's well worth a visit and there is a fantastic bookshop to ponder in afterwards.
Nancy Holt began working in the late 1960's as part of the Land Art Movement she is probably best known for her large scale site specific works such as 'Sun Tunnels' 1973-6 positioned in the Great Salt Desert Utah. This exhibition we see her works on paper in the form of photographic images for the first time in the UK.
I'll begin with Sun Tunnels there is a strong sense passing time consolidated into one image. Through repetition of imagery we see the static frame changing during a day which can be difficult to understand if you look at the work in situ. It was interesting to come face to face with this collection of work as Nancy Holt appeared in my very first presentation during my MA as an example of monumental scale, light, time, and the context in which she worked within was relevant to my own research. Land art was the first group to take work outside and remove it from the confines of the white cube gallery spaces along with Robert Smithson, Richard Long, James Turrell to name a few... During this time there was a cross over between Minimalism and Conceptual Art with artist such as Richard Serra also pushing materiality, scale and space. Although there was a common strand of thinking during this time it's interesting how Nancy Holt executed her work. it's evident to see there is a fascination with the circle the view the focal point the curve which immediately pulls you in and focusses your own attention as the viewer.
These images were presented in the first room and has to be my personal favourite as it appears to hinge her body of work and from this it is clear to see how her thinking began the develop.
Repetition in the form and structure, space and spaces created using multiples. A clean slightly brutalist aesthetic in materiality and the idea of framing a view or focussing in on a particular viewpoint instantly resonates though out the following rooms.
Take a look at www.haunchofvenison.com there is an interesting interview with Nancy Holt about this exhibition. It's well worth a visit and there is a fantastic bookshop to ponder in afterwards.