photography by Gregory Colbert
photography by Gregory Colbert
ashes & snow
by angelica singh
an artist uses his whole heart
This January of 2006, Los Angeles will usher in the new year with the beatific presence of “Ashes and Snow,” a four-part exhibition of photographs, film, art installation and a novel in letters by Canadian-born artist Gregory Colbert, who has spent the last 13 years traveling the world, documenting the souls of animals and humans communing. Colbert’s first exhibition of “Ashes and Snow” in Venice, Italy in 2002 was funded by a handful of private collectors and the Rolex Corporation. This past summer, a second exhibition was unveiled at Pier 54 on the Hudson River in New York City. Under the guidance of award-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, Colbert’s team assembled 152 shipping containers to create the Nomadic Museum, the “temple” holding Colbert’s sacred “Ashes and Snow” exhibit. Colbert’s epic body of work is comprised of the most arresting images, including a reverent child reading to a kneeling elephant, statuesque cheetahs with African bushmen, and the insouciant artist himself “dancing” (free-diving) underwater with a 55-foot Sperm whale. Visitors of the New York exhibition were profoundly moved by Colbert’s remarkable 3’ by 9’ photos and their uncanny ability to illuminate and express the sacred relationship between animals and humans. Each photograph reflects Colbert’s intention to dissolve the illusion of boundaries between humans and our fellow species on the planet. Accordingly, all of the photos are stills with no digital doctoring, a fact that only lends itself to the integrity of Colbert’s visionary talents. More than 100,000 visitors experienced “Ashes and Snow” in Italy, and another 500,000 at New York City’s Pier 54.
In its present incarnation “Ashes and Snow” will reside in the Nomadic Museum at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California for five consecutive months beginning January 14th and ending May 14th, 2006. It will again be constructed from reusable and recycled materials, including the steel containers stacked in a checkerboard pattern to create rigid walls, 34 feet high. The unframed, sepia photographs, printed on Japanese cloth-like parchment, will float from invisible cables installed between 2-foot-thick paper-tube columns supporting the space. The entire exhibition will include new developments and designs as part of its ongoing evolution as well as additions from Colbert’s recent adventures documenting orangutans in Borneo and Jaguars in Belize.
The intricacies of both the Nomadic Museum and “Ashes and Snow” have been graciously funded by patrons, allowing Colbert the freedom of artistry. In return, the artist’s true vision is expressed in mythic, soulful moments that live as visceral experiences for each visitor before thought, before the mind. Many of the shots depicting human subjects are indigenous boys and girls captured with eyes closed to honor that which is the inherent wisdom of the animal, and often long forgotten by humans. The images exude a serene harmony one might only discover in the deepest of meditations, or in this instance, kneeling next to a cheetah. The relational themes between animals and humans radiate a sensuality and richness of life in the timeless silence of temples, deserts and waters from unnamed places and unknown eras. Colbert commented on his personal impetus for “Ashes and Snow” revealing, “I wanted to use my whole heart, in a whole way, in a whole direction.” The result of this intention is undeniably a breathtaking experience. The symbolism and spirit of each photo bursts forward like poetry reminiscent of Rumi. They are meditations that compel the acknowledgment and remembrance of the Eternal life force that runs through all beings, animal and human, where we as creatures commune in respect and understanding of one another.
Giuli Cordara who is a veteran in the conservation world confers, “What Gregory’s powerful images can do for animals took me years to do when I directed the animal welfare foundation. These photos make people think about nature, that we are part of the planet. We are animals too.” Colbert co-founded the Bianimale Foundation with Cordara, which in addition to supporting “Ashes and Snow,” supports forest conservation in Africa and Save the Elephants organization.
For more information on “Ashes and Snow” and for tickets, visit ashesandsnow.org. The exhibition opens at the Santa Monica Pier January 14th and runs through May 14th, 2006.
Angelica Singhangelicasingh@earthlink.net