Photos taken just last year on a road trip between Zurich and Tehran are the subject of Tehran born, Zurich-based artist Shirana Shahbazi’s solo show at LES gallery On Stellar Rays, but her printing technique (two-color lithography) and age-old scenery create timeless, captivating scenes. (Through June 14th).
Shirana Shahbazi, Wuste, two-color lithography on Zerkall Butten paper, 20 ¼ x 26 inches, 2014.
New Delhi-based photographer Pablo Bartholomew’s photos of 1970s counterculture in Bombay, New Delhi and Calcutta include plenty of languid hanging out, none as charming as this sunny scene with friends. (At Thomas Erben Gallery in Chelsea through June 20th).
Pablo Bartholomew, Hanging out at Sunder and Ammu’s with Poli, Sheena, Jai and the kids, Calcutta, 1978, silver gelatin print, 1978.
Artists don’t make road trips like they used to…Brooklyn-based photographer Matthew Jensen left his car parked and instead turned to Google Street View to make this 2009 piece in which he chose an image from each state (apart from Hawaii, which had not yet been mapped). The artists states, ‘The sun used to be the only thing to touch the entire earth and now Google does as well.’ (At Chelsea’s Yancey Richardson Gallery through June 20th.)
Matthew Jensen, The 49 States, 49 chromogenic prints, each 16 x 16 inches, 2009.
Conceived of in 1966 and only realized in 2007, Lucas Samaras’ ‘Doorway’ reverses Yayoi Kusama’s mirrored interiors by putting mirrors on the exterior to reflect visitors and surroundings. At Pace Gallery, these include banks of photos from the artist’s life and a frieze of self-portraits in which Samaras in a flowing white beard and long hair resembles Rip Van Winkle or, after 40 years of using himself as subject matter, god of the selfie. (Through June 27th).
Lucas Samaras, installation view, Pace Gallery, May 2015.
Both identity and longevity are illusory, Judith Henry’s photos seem to say. Masked and standing in front of paintings that she made in response to others, Henry takes a photo, then uses the painting as a surface for the next work. (At Bravin Lee in Chelsea through May 16th).
Judith Henry, Blue Rectangle, archival pigment print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Bright White, 19 x 24 inches, 2014.
