McCord Museum has an exhibition going on right now of Italian photographer Mimmo Jodice's work. The Sublime Cities exhibition has definitely earned its name based on his photographs. I had never heard of him, but every morning I would walk by a poster announcing Sublime Cities with a beautiful black and white of Venice. I looked into his work, and I was fascinated to read about his techniques. By applying the painting technique of chiaroscuro, inspiration from surrealist artist Giorgio di Chirico, a very personal development technique and lots of patience, Jodice manages to make the bustling cities of the world timeless, quiet, still.
His work has been showcased in some of the most renowned museums in the world including the Louvre. This past spring, Montreal welcomed Jodice and his camera where he managed to capture this city in a whole new light. Jodice is known to wait hours for pedestrians and cars to be out of his shot. He wants to capture the city—only the city—and show his audience a side of their home they have never seen. He want "silent images".
So much can be said about his technique: the subtle distortion of the photographs; the way he plays with the light like it was subject to his every whim; but see for yourself! Check out some interesting articles here and here about Jodice and his recent visit to Montreal.
The exhibition is on at the McCord Museum until March 10.
{images: real venice}
