Analog Forever Online Magazine Review
“Kansas Triptych #2” by Adam Reynolds
2020 has forced the world to live under new restrictions, changing the way that we are able to share the art and photography of the world. In March, we saw a national lockdown, closing all public spaces which stopped all exhibitions from happening in a physical placing. Adaptation, the ability to adjust, has been key to our lives over this year and the way that we are sharing new art from the world has had to change. Since the beginning of the internet, the way that we share photographs has changed dramatically and it has been an instant source for wherever we are. Usually, the photographs that we see on the internet of new work are snippets that encourage an audience to go and see the physical exhibition or buy the artist’s latest book. However, the consequences and restrictions of Covid-19 have increased the sharing of online exhibitions which has entitled people to view new work in a fast and non-physical way.
The Analog Forever magazine website is one of the first places that I would go to check out group exhibitions from image creators around the world. Since October 2018 they have been sharing monthly online group exhibitions. The themes of the work vary from landscape to surrealism and alternative printmaking which will grab the interest of any photographic enthusiast. The website is user friendly and easy to navigate around which exposes the audience to a vast variety of imagery.
“Iceland Lava Flow, May 2010” by Greg Britton
I continuously look for inner peace within the natural world so I was particularly drawn into the May 2020 group exhibition titled “Horizons”. Curated by the Founder and Executive Director of the SE Center for Photography in Greenville, SC, Michael Pannier. Explaining that “ these photographs explore the natural scenes of our work and environment that make our hearts beat faster and take our breath away”. I find that analogue photography always takes an individual look at every frame that is taken. When viewing the photographs your eye journeys through the different styles and methods which have been used to make the imagery. “Iceland Lave Flow” shot by Greg Britton is one of my favourite images from the collection. Showing a vastly powerful black and white landscape which almost looks as if it is not planet Earth.
Viewing an exhibit of work has a deeper in pact on you than just viewing some pretty pictures. As an artist I find myself looking for comparisons between my practice and the work that is in front of me. While living in this strange and uncertain world I think that it can be hard to keep the creative flow going which why I encourage you to keep looking at photographic work. Being inspired is one of the most powerful notions in creating work, whether that be conscious or not. Trying to get into the heads of other artists can make you begin to ask those same questions about your own work. This thought could better your critical evaluation of your work and subsequently inspire the making of new work in the future.
"White Rock" By Sergey Podtsepko