Bill durgin
figurations
September 4th through October 11th, 2008
Opening reception:
Thursday, September 4th, 6-9pm
Merge Gallery
205 West 20th Street
New York, NY
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11-6pm
Merge Gallery is excited to introduce the work of Bill Durgin in his first solo exhibition with the gallery entitled “Figurations.” Durgin’s work will be on display opening September 4, 2008 to close October 11, 2008. Durgin is a New York-based photographer and his current series exploits the genre of figuration to propose a more seductive and uncanny composition of the body.
Durgin’s photographs reflect his fascination with the figure as a sculptural entity. His complex arrangements of the body require extreme contortion to achieve an austere effect, as if the figures have been abstracted. The gestures examine his own corporal boundaries as well as those of the performers he works with and are impressive in their ability to seemingly defy physical limitations. Transforming the body into an amorphic object, Durgin uses a large format camera and film to capture the figures so that they appear to be without appendages. Recognizable as bodies, they remain detached from common perceptions of the human form.
Upon first glance, Durgin’s photographs possess a certain ominous and disturbing quality, the figures appear slightly grotesque as in Lucien Freud’s figure studies. This quality is also enhanced through the figure’s relationship to the specific architectural space – the studio. The composition is carefully considered, the colors range from light and airy to slightly moodier and grim. What remains is the beauty of the figure and the mystery behind it. The effect can be haunting but is also captivating and stunning.
For further information or to arrange an interview with the artist, please contact Cass Zielinski at info@mergegallery.com or telephone 212.929.7505.
High-resolution images available for reproduction upon request.
