Dark on Light
Photographs by Paul Rider and Larry Blackwood
January 5, 2011 - February 5, 2011
Sacramento, California
Paul Rider’s “Drawn to the Light” images are abstract studies of light and shadow on paper, transformations that are contemplative and calming. The light strikes the curving paper revealing tension on the torn edges and palpable texture. Rider sees these as symbolic of world tension and conflict yet also envisions them as representative of hope and peace.
Rider expands: “The images are abstracts representing the landscape in the area of the world where the conflict is mostly occurring. Using the Eugene Smith’s photograph, “The Walk in Paradise Garden” as inspiration, I am mostly drawing from his idea of the bright light that the children are walking towards as the optimistic future. My imagery is created in a style similar to that of aerial topographic photography. The look of the imagery is created by the use of one main light source that emits the glow of light that is referenced in the Eugene Smith photograph. The glow represents the brightness of a future we are drawn towards, while still being surrounded by an immense darkness, representing the ongoing conflict.”
