Ray Carofano III

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

1. “High Tension #37” – gelatin silver print 1998

           The powerful vertical bold electric pole is placed in a little off from the center, three different diagnostic slant wires create tight tension in left side of a pole, and several fine cove wires are hanging top of the pole with fascinated position in right side. The horizontal land is strongly positioned in the front lower part, and the descendent mountain contour in the far back. They are perfectly composed in asymmetric balance with the strength of these structures, deeply filled with mystical misty mood in the split-toned image.

           What I found the message which is conveyed by the image is the feeling of something being out of balance with uneasy atmosphere. Man’s exploitation like these powerful man-made materials destroyed the balance of the natural beauty and peaceful environments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. “Transformation” – iris print on 1996

What I observed the quality of the image, “Transformation,” is the dark brown tonality with the contrast in between the clarity and the blurring techniques, which are creating deep spacious three dimensional misty moods with the serenity, yet transience of life. I could imagine the techniques that he used creating his artworks in the darkroom, from his lecture. First, he slightly overdevelops from his negatives in order to elevating contrast. Then, he selectively filters and diffuses the image just like being projected onto the paper while he enlarges the negatives. He prefers multi-grade papers to control contrast and density of selected areas of the print more precisely for his mystical transformation images.

I appreciate these sensitive techniques where being applied perfectly in between the front big tree with clarity and indistinct blurring other trees behind, so that creates a quite natural beauty in the silent desolate environment in composition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. “High Tension #37” – gelatin silver print 1998

I sense that the artist is manipulating the image in selective areas in order to convey his spiritual ｅxpressions as extensions of how he felt about the scene at the moment during the exposure of the photographic paper. I respect his artistic sensitivity in his darkroom for his artwork as more creative than technical. “High Tension #37” represents both powerful yet quiet presence of human intrusion; relives the isolate images looking through beyond the spacious area.

The artist tries to present the main theme for his artworks that human being should instinctively balance with peaceful nature, not ignore vulnerably with sensible environment. The artist believes that we are coming from the nature and soon returning back to the cycle of life and death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. “Water Hyacinths”, “Young Apple Trees”, “The Two Trees” and “Six Black Ducks” are displaying together in deep left side corner of exhibit hall. These are well touched with great emotions and make me feel that I am standing in the middle of peaceful nature where my eyes can draw a big enclosure with these 4 individual images. These 2 sets of contrast images create a whole new image that I can develop my memorable story in the soft mild brownish tonality mood among the intense landscapes and the calm trees. It enhances my journey fulfilled with the spiritual energy from nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S. Rhee

May 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.carofano.com/pages/hightension1.html