Art is a field enriched with an abundant variety of concepts and techniques that consociate artistic practices—this is to say that divergent practices are still comparable at the core. For instance, "en plein air" is a concept used in the world of painting which refers to the exclusively-outdoors creation of artwork—art which comes to life spontaneously on-site. Similarly, yet contrastingly, "mise en scène" is a filmmaking concept which alludes to all the elements that compose a successful staged camera shot—art which is carefully conceptualized pre-site. These two concepts hold significant importance within their respective field of origin but are also of notable relevance within the world of contemporary photography. Exploring the relevance and the development of contrastingly distinctive—yet equally challenging—techniques that combined with the artist’s artistic idealizations bring life to the art of photography constitutes the main focus of our brand-new January 2020 show: Behind the Lens of a Captured Ideal, featuring Miss Aniela, Drew Doggett, Olga Kulakova, Ysabel LeMay, Harry Skeggs, Hans Withoos, and Alice Zilberberg.

An ideal represents an individual’s conceptualization of idealized perfection, and as such, is a variable concept tied to individual beliefs and predilections. Within the context of this exhibition, the “captured ideal” symbolizes the final product—the artwork itself—that our artists achieved through their method; and it is this method combined with the artist’s own vision that ultimately dictates the direction of the ideal—showcasing the truth behind the lens, the rawest essence of their artistic nature.

Inside the world of Miss Aniela, fashion meets fine art, and beauty meets absurdity. The British artist’s “Surreal Fashion” introduces the viewer to dreamy characters basking in opulent worlds from the sublime to the bizarre. A crafter who combines a multitude of art and design aspects to invite the viewer into her unique, visionary world; her carefully conceptualized mise en scène compositions combine the principles of styling, makeup, staging, and post-editing, resulting in a visual feast that transcends the history of art itself.

Drew Doggett is an American photographer who utilizes his background in fashion to masterfully immortalize compositions inspired by the beauty of nature itself. As a perfectionist, Doggett seeks to extract the most possible detail from deep within each composition he creates. This is evidenced in his Equus: Light and Form series, where he turned some of the most elite horses in the world into beautifully crafted works of portraiture, each piece impeccably highlighting his subject's most stunning features. Doggett's aesthetic sensibility allows him to make his subjects approachable to the viewer while maintaining a status of pride and power, a virtue that allows him to stand out in the world of contemporary photography among his peers.

Kazakhstan-born photographer Olga Kulakova combines her passion for mountaineering with her passion for capturing the perfect en plain air shot. Her work invites us to appreciate the beauty in an undisturbed natural setting, showcasing the world in its rawest state. As such, her ideal represents a conversation on the beauty within all that transcends human creation—that which retains its original purity as was always intended by nature itself.

Canadian artist Ysabel LeMay combines her knowledge on both painting and photography to create highly detailed hypercollages that showcase the natural world remixed to paradisal perfection. LeMay travels the globe collecting potential imagery to use on her work, which she carefully studies in order to conceive her intricate concepts; her method consisting on rearranging a multitude of natural elements taken from her traveling photos, weaving every fragment into majestic compositions. Her ideal therefore being an enhanced personal interpretation of the natural beauty the world has to offer.

British-born Harry Skeggs specializes in en plain air wildlife photography. Skeggs defines himself as an adventurer at heart, traveling all over the globe to get close and personal with his subjects, his method consisting on patient observation until the moment for the ideal shot presents itself. An open critic of the disturbance of wildlife in favor of the art, Skeggs believes that one should not get in the way of the subject but let the subject guide you instead. His ideal therefore being an honest representation of the wildlife he encounters, maintaining the essence of the scene.

Hans Withoos creates mesmerizing mise en scène compositions that present his artistic vision heavily inspired by artistic history. The Dutch photographer works as the full producer of his own work, conceptualizing ideas and making them into a reality through the use of specific set-locations, styling, and carefully chosen subjects. A direct descendent of 17th century painter Matthias Withoos, Hans parallels his photography with the art of painting itself, as he carefully revises and layers the images he takes, until the ideal is achieved to his complete satisfaction. A constant theme evidenced in his work is the exploration of beauty within tragedy, a tragedy that derives from different sources—be it historical or personal—but a tragedy that is always present. As such, while Hans’ ideal is undoubtedly beautiful in nature, it is not one without adversity.

Estonian-born Alice Zilberberg spent over a decade developing her unique technique of creating digital paintings. Her method utilizes both concepts of en plain air as well as mise en scène, creating harmonious compositions that introduces the viewer to the best of both worlds. Zilberberg conceptualizes her vision and meticulously plans every aspect of the process, from a location that can be anywhere in the world to the subject—be it human or wildlife—she then puts together the pieces like a puzzle, creating artwork that is as refined as it is elaborate. The ideal of Alice Zilberberg transcends both nature and the fabricated, it is both and also neither, leaving the viewer to wonder the truth behind what is in front of their eyes.

At its simplest core, Behind the Lens of a Captured Ideal is a testament to the abundant artistic diversity that can be achieved through a camera, but no without effort and expertise. Photography as an art medium is often understated, and there is a lot of arduous method behind the art, a method that accredits it as a discipline that not all could skillfully practice. The undeniable truth is that photography invites us to see the world through the eyes of the one behind the lens, to be aware of the intricacies of the world that go beyond plain sight—a gift from artist to viewer.

By Andres J. Mora