NYAB Event - Rodolfo Choperena “The Wave”

Rodolfo Choperena “The Wave”

Artemisa

This event has ended.

Artemisa Gallery presents a solo show of photography by Mexican artist Rodolfo Choperena.

Various manifestations of Choperena’s photography represent his extensive and diverse oeuvre, devoted to the study of wavelengths, light, and perceptions of reality. While many of the photographs are printed on metal circles, rectangles, and “linear segments,” others are reproduced as hand woven Tibetan rugs or projected videos. Each photograph is a result of a complex performance-based process. First Choperena chooses his subject matter, often arranging a series of colorful objects in his path. Next, the artist slows down the camera’s shutter speed and walks throughout the prolonged exposure. Brilliant abstract images emerge to represent this performed moment in a reduced and distilled form.

In the artist’s words, he has perfected the process of capturing ephemeral events as digital images. Upon a closer look, however, the concept is extremely complex and raises questions about society’s definition of a photograph. In lieu of Photoshop and digital re-imaging, Choperena’s performance obliterates any pre-existing concept of immediacy within the photographic process. The artist’s reincarnation of his subject matter as geometric shapes, rugs or projections further excavates the concept of photography as a window into reality. When looking at Choperena’s work it is no longer the specific subject matter but the perfectly candid manipulation of reality that prevails.

Rodolfo Choperena was born in Mexico City in 1966. He was the 2013 recipient of the Hasselblad Owners Club award for Photographer of the Month. Choperena is extensively collected and in numerous corporate art collections including: San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, Capital One, Hayatt South Beach Miami, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Random House/ Penguin NYC, University of Texas at SA, Argo Group, Collection Changarrito, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Guadalupe Cultural Art Center, Liberto Enterprises, and the University Health Care System San Antonio. Choperena has been exhibited in galleries across the United States, Mexico, Peru, and most recently in Turkey, where he has an upcoming exhibition. The artist currently lives and works in San Antonio, Texas.