Garden Whimsy

By Elin Spring

Our January cycle of arctic blasts paired with the crescendo of omicron’s grip make me feel quite done with winter. If only these rogues were quite done with us. Happily, my despair has found the perfect antidote in “Garden Whimsy,” Silke Hase’s solo exhibition of revitalizing Ziatype prints on view at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA through February 27^th, 2022.

“Summer Sphere” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.

“A Bridge to Somehow” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.

In Garden Whimsy, Hase invites us to savor the intricacies of a natural world that we tend to bypass as we navigate daily through a parallel universe. Using a macro lens, she focuses on a scale that magnifies a realm that wafts, crawls, buzzes and thrives largely unnoticed around us. Her intimate compositions suggest endearing tales, from the acrobatics of a bumble bee to the abstraction of a dewdrop clinging to a leafy blade. Hase’s unique prints possess a textural sensuality that transform mundane into magical.

“Contemplation” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.

“Paws Jaws Pause” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.

A mere 3”x3” in dimension, Hase crafts her luscious photographs using the labor-intensive Ziatype contact printing method, an offshoot of the historic Platinum/Palladium technique. With lyrical brushstrokes across Italian watercolor paper, she coaxes delicate details and absorbing compositions into precious gems. Her enchantment with the diminutive occupants of her home garden and her relish for the serendipity of hands-on printing combine to celebrate the underfoot and overlooked. In Garden Whimsy, Hase illuminates a world that nurtures a longing to linger.

“Step Lightly” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.

“To the Sun” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.

For hours, directions and information about associated programming, go to: https://griffinmuseum.org/show/garden-whimsy/

Feature Image: Installation view courtesy of Yorgos Efthymiadis.

“Flock together” unique Ziatype print from the series Garden Whimsy by Silke Hase, courtesy of the artist.