Simon Chaput: Waterfalls & Nudes
Overview
Waterfalls and Nudes is an exciting collection of Simon Chaput's high-contrast, black and white photographs, capturing subjects that give the exhibition it's name. Chaput began this style, which puts just as much emphasis on the negative space as the positive, in 1996 with his images of buildings in Manhattan. He was able to present a fresh perspective on familiar territory; the same can be said for his waterfalls and nudes. At first glance the subject may appear to be a rolling landscape, but beyond the immediate simplicity of the image lays a very intimate view of the body. His use of the silver gelatin medium produces fine grainy textures that emphasize the stone-like sculptural nature of these human forms. Chaput's waterfalls are taken out of their natural environment and placed on the same stark black background as his nudes. It has a similar effect, morphing these beautiful bodies of water into a vision of something else: draped linens or bizarre architectural structures. By pulling these waterfalls and nudes out of context, Chaput is, quite literally, shedding a new light on a historically popular subject matter.