In an exhilarating revelation of visual poetics, IBASHO Gallery unfolds the nuanced tapestry of Angel Albarrán and Anna Cabrera’s second solo foray, ‘Photographic Syntax.’ Entwined with the fibres of a philosophical quest, the oeuvre on display transcends the mere act of observation, delving deep into the essence of photographic introspection.
www.instagram.com/ibasho___gallery
www.instagram.com/albarrancabrera
In their unveiled chronicle, ‘Photographic Syntax,’ published in collaboration with (M) éditions & IBASHO, the Spanish artist duo lends us a glimpse into their cerebral sanctuary. They articulate, “The camera became our cypher to the enigma of reality. Initially, our eyes sought the familiar, a mere reflection of existence. Rapidly, our gaze turned inward, probing for the enigmatic skeleton beneath the veneer. The camera, thus, evolved into our chisel and scalpel, etching and dissecting the cosmos, with images crystallizing as the vestiges of our philosophical odyssey.”
Elaborating on their quest, Albarrán Cabrera states, “When the boundless scope of imagination overshadows the confines of present technology, one must dare to redefine the constructs. To amplify the resonance of our visual symphony, we ventured into uncharted territories of methodology and medium.”
The exhibition is a sanctuary where photographs graduate from the realm of mere imagery to embrace the sculpted statue of tangible artefacts. Albarrán Cabrera delicately crafts a narrative through the lens, employing bespoke printing methods, including the resplendent merger of Japanese gampi paper and gold leaf, alongside the lustrous alchemy of toned cyanotypes on aluminium. Spanning a decade’s pilgrimage through the soulful sites of Japan to the latest incarnations capturing the intangible dance of polarized light, each piece resonates with an ambition to leap beyond the pictorial into profound introspection.
Angel Albarrán and Anna Cabrera, bound by their birth year of 1969 and a shared pilgrimage through the world of photographic artistry, have been interweaving their creative ethos since 1996. Imbued with a tapestry of philosophies from both East and West, their creations are dialogues in time, identity, and space, beckoning viewers to reexamine the nature of existence through the lens of personal introspection. Adorning walls beyond their native Barcelona, their works have found residence in distinguished collections such as Hermès, the Goetz Collection, Banco de Santander, The German Bundestag, and De Nederlandsche Bank, amongst others.
Exhibition Details
Albarrán Cabrera: Photographic Syntax
Dates: 27 January – 10 March 2024
Venue: IBASHO Gallery, Tolstraat 67, 2000 Antwerp
