Karl Baden never quits. A persistent street documentarian, he dons the mantle of photographing every single day as surely as he breathes, starting – famously – with a self-portrait each morning since February 23, 1987. Now he’s back with a colorful new series, Rising, at Miller Yezerski Gallery in SoWa, Boston’s South End art district, through February 9, 2016.
“Untitled, July 16, 2013” from the series Rising by Karl Baden (courtesy of the artist and Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston).
This latest in Baden’s captivating succession of social studies places him at the Harvard Square “T” stop, at the top of the escalator on bright, sunny afternoons when the light slashes across commuters as they rise to street level. One might not guess this is a watershed moment, but it is exactly the type of time and place Baden has a knack for finding, with rich photographic results.
“Untitled, July 14, 2013” from the series Rising by Karl Baden (courtesy of the artist and Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston).
That’s because Karl Baden is a master of visual wit. But no cheap tricks here. Rather, Baden’s work is firmly grounded in photographic history and tradition, with cunning references to the iconic photographers of the 20th and 21st Century, especially the “urban social landscape” great, Lee Friedlander. Baden’s own sophistication is revealed in his inventively offbeat compositions, concocted with robust colors and slyly hilarious content.
“Untitled, May 7, 2015” from the series Rising by Karl Baden (courtesy of the artist and Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston).
With impeccable timing, Baden nabs the “incidents and accidents, hints and allegations” (in the words of Paul Simon) of commuters as they unintentionally rise onto his stage during the cacophony of rush hour. Luminous patches of clothing and body parts contrast with the dark void beyond the reach of Baden’s camera, artificially flattening the visual plane and creating surreal juxtapositions.
“Untitled, July 31, 2015” from the series Rising by Karl Baden (courtesy of the artist and Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston).
It is some feat that Baden doesn’t use Photoshop to attain his uncanny effects. This is the work of an experienced street photographer with an inquiring mind and mad skills. Baden baits exhibit viewers with irresistible visual puzzles and rewards our scrutiny with his quirky, comical riff on the mysteries of life.
For more information about this exhibit, go to: http://www.milleryezerskigallery.com/exhibition/rising/
Feature Image: “Untitled, May 3, 2015” (Detail) from the series Rising by Karl Baden (courtesy of the artist and Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston).
“Untitled, July 16, 2013” from the series Rising by Karl Baden (courtesy of the artist and Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston).
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