Beyond the Threshold of the Visible: The Photographic Objects of Alexander Ugay

One of the features photography is fact that process formation image invisible — in contrast to painting. It as if photography, which makes world more visible, evades visual control. The transition digital techniques partly reduces this “dark side” but it also allows us make better sense analogous and reflect on its dual nature. Alexander Ugay, a contemporary artist from Kazakhstan, who his practice shifts an object, substance process, example such reflection; thematization nature medium combined with theme memory oblivion. In Objects Memory (2013), he photographed back pictures several archives Stalinist camps procedure emphasizes material ephemeral character prints. iconic aspect almost entirely excluded Time Capsule (2011 present time) reveals self-destructive act taking picture. series “obscuratons” (2017–2018) complex pinhole cameras lot holes preliminary result reflection photographic dialectics visible invisible. Every obscuraton functions alternately devise for creating (equivalent human vision) object integrated some environment side by other things. polemics idea total control can be read here; machines vision prove blindness. general impression sole purpose emphasis physical chemical processes, use particular iconographic resources references historical realities have single goal Ugay’s projects: dissolution meanings disintegration forms.