New York State of Mind photographic exhibition opens in Stellenbosch
Ground level images captured by George Dalla Cia
Red Black & White Gallery at Piér Rabe’s Antique Warehouse
29 July – 29 August 2011
A photographic exhibition entitled New York State of Mind – inspiring ground level images of a diverse architectural landscape captured by George Dalla Cia, is on show at the Red Black & White Gallery at Piér Rabe’s Antique Warehouse in Stellenbosch from 29 July to 29 August 2011.
George, a devoted art lover, epicurean and Stellenbosch wine and grappa producer, discovered his true artistic passion for photography while walking the streets of New York with his wife Elena, during a visit in May 2006. Feeling immediately at home and driven by a search for perfection he learnt from his father Giorgio, he set about capturing the essence of the city in just 4 days with his Leica D-Lux 2.
“The words of Thomas Wolfe soon became tangible for me whilst walking the streets with Elena: ‘One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years’, and it was this truth that I wanted to capture and share,” says George.
In his series of New York photographs George presents an aesthetic symmetry of the city and manages to reflect the street level buzz, great diversity and simplicity of styles in this melting potof urban culture.
“What I found most striking within the context of New York Pop-Culture, were the many architectural parallels to Cape Town – from art deco to Dutch and modernism. I set out to show the rich cultural harmony and simplicity in the midst of diversity through my street view perspective, in essence to illustrate how less is more,” George explains.
His New York body of work also reveals a deep personal reflection submerged in a sense of belonging or déjà vu, triggered by many familiar scenes from the movies.
The venue, Piér Rabe’s loft-style, semi-industrial Antique Warehouse is a perfect backdrop for the predominantly black and white photographs showing perspectives of this incredible city that is New York. The newly reopened mezzanine Red Black & White Gallery features raw brick interiors and elaborate roof trusses juxtaposed against retro décor.
This judiciously renovated early twentieth century building has become a haven of art, décor and fine antiques collected by aficionados Piér and Jo-Marie Rabe. The Gallery on the mezzanine level features regular art exhibitions and modern design pieces. A massive red sculpture by Strijdom van der Merwe adorns the outside of the building.
The New York State of Mind exhibition will be open daily from Monday to Friday from 9h00 to 16h30 and on Saturdays from 10h00 to 13h00 in the Red Black & White Gallery at Piér Rabe Antique Warehouse, Distillery Road, Bosman’s Crossing, Stellenbosch. For further information call Janri at Tel: +27 +21-886 6281.
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