Past Exhibitions

Light in the Landscape:
Photographs by Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin

6 April–1 August 2004

Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin (American, b. 1943) Utah 98-8 Infared gelatin silver print photograph, 1998 Courtesy of the artist

Photographer Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin's passion for long, leisurely outings combines perfectly with her extraordinary ability to document views that stir her imagination. On view in the White Print Room, this exhibition offers a series of dream-like images from her travels in the United States and Israel. Included are three-dimensional photographs, created with multiple lenses and a lenticular printing process, as well as black-and-white infrared silver prints in which conventional expectations for shades of gray are dramatically altered.

"Photographs are distillations of perception and experience which frequently make use of metaphor," says Hofkin who graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1965. "Imagination and reality operate together, and it is this union which directs my work as an artist." For several years, Hofkin has been producing three-dimensional photographs. Their hypnotic quality, she suggests, augments their sensuous and organic elements and expands the possibilities of the medium. The added depth draws in the viewer, thereby triggering a more intimate relationship with the work. In working with these 3-D images, the artist is particularly struck by "the sense of reality each possesses and yet the pieces seem to emphasize the unknown or hidden layers present in our surroundings."

Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin (American, b. 1943) Charleston-97-10 Infared gelatin silver print photograph, 1997 Courtesy of the artist

In her other work, Hofkin uses primarily black-and-white infrared film because "it enables me to articulate the contrast between illumination and darkness, or soft and sharp, and to enhance a meditation upon the fleeting nature of the moment." This film is sensitive to the visible spectrum and infrared light, which is not perceived by the human eye. Objects reflecting significant concentrations of infrared energy register greater density on the film's negative, thereby causing final images to appear lighter or more ethereal. For example, green leaves appear white instead of the shades of grey to which viewers are accustomed. Blue skies are black. "The resulting shift in tonality," says Hofkin, "emphasizes those mysterious qualities I seek in my work."

Hofkin's list of exhibitions, awards and publications fills many pages. The recipient of a master's degree from Bryn Mawr College, she also studied with Ansel Adams, Frank Gohlke and Linda Connor. Her photographs are part of numerous collections, including the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Return to list of Past Exhibitions