The online exhibition Il Fiume Po (The River Po) presents the natural and man-made surroundings of the River Po through Michael Kenna's captivating perspective, offering both mystery and stillness. This week, for the Gallery Favorites segment of our blog, we highlight images from the exhibition that personally resonate with each of us.
We hope you enjoy our selections from Michael Kenna: Il Fiume Po (The River Po) and please reach out if you have questions about one of the featured prints!
— Anne & Patricia
Anne Kelly
I rarely stumble on a Kenna photograph that I don’t like. Sometimes, however, certain images will stand out, and it can be hard to articulate exactly why that is. Over the years, I have noticed that I tend to instinctually pause a bit longer when viewing images that I favor. On a more conscious level, I gravitate towards images that possess a bit of mystery — while simultaneously offering a sense of déjà vu.Kenna photographs both the natural and man-made world with the same grace — a singular vision. He depicts the industrial landscape with the same reverence as a snow-covered tree in the forest.
From our current exhibition, I selected two images:
Ponti di Spagna, Bondeno, Ferrara, Italy, 2018
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| Michael Kenna, Ponti di Spagna, Bondeno, Ferrara, Italy, 2018, gelatin-silver print, 8 x 8 inches, edition of 25, $3500 |
Many of Kenna’s photographs are multiple-hour exposures. While making the exposure Michael patiently enjoys taking in the world around him. The evidence is the photograph.
Night Power Station, Pila, Porto Tolle, Rovigo, Italy, 2018
I have always appreciated Kenna’s ability to approach industrial landscapes and the natural world with the same method. It appears that he addresses both with equal wonder and reverence. As a young boy, Michael spent quite a bit of time exploring the industrial landscape of northwest England — and it is clear to me that he hasn’t lost the sense of child-like wonder.
In his adult years, Ford River Rouge, an industrial complex outside of Detroit, Michigan, and Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottinghamshire, England are two locations that Kenna has photographed extensively. This image is a bit different in that the river and absence of daylight become such a large part of the composition. The star trails in the sky and man-made light sources bring the power station to life.
In his adult years, Ford River Rouge, an industrial complex outside of Detroit, Michigan, and Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottinghamshire, England are two locations that Kenna has photographed extensively. This image is a bit different in that the river and absence of daylight become such a large part of the composition. The star trails in the sky and man-made light sources bring the power station to life.
Patricia Martin
The work of Michael Kenna is magical and of admirable beauty. His images often transport me into an oasis of calm and solitude, reflection and imagination. To observe the world through his oneiric and evocative photographs is to enjoy an everlasting present.
My favorite images from the current exhibition are the following:
My favorite images from the current exhibition are the following:
Tunnel of Poplars, Boretto, Reggio Emilia, Italy. 2017
Tunnel of Poplars is a domesticated landscape where human presence is noticeable through its absence. A seemingly endless succession of trees flank an empty road. Like natural architectural lines organized in gradual shades of gray, the trees engage my gaze in a perpetual exercise of back-and-forth, an infinite loop. In this image, I enjoy the imaginary long walks I take along its placid path.
River Po Headwaters, Pian del Re, Crissolo, Cuneo, Italy. 2019
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| Michael Kenna, River Po Headwaters, Pian del Re, Crissolo, Cuneo, Italy, 2019, gelatin-silver print, 8" x 8", edition of 25, $3000 |
In River Po Headwaters, the river reads like a calligraphy mark, or the brushstroke in an abstract expressionist painting. Kenna's ability to draw out the essence of the space is mesmerizing. The long exposure in this image has made the snow blinding and the undulating river black. By blurring the details and creating a dramatic contrast between the elements, Kenna offers us a suggestive space away from the chaotic details of every day living. In this photograph, I like to follow the river up the mountain and imagine discovering its source.
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All prices listed were current at the time this post was published.
For more information, and to purchase prints, please contact Gallery Director Anne Kelly or Gallery Assistant Patricia Martin, or you may also call us at 505-988-5152 x202