Lot 67
  • 67

KENRO IZU | Palitana #453, Gujarat, India

Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Kenro Izu
  • Palitana #453, Gujarat, India
  • Signed and dated '2012 Kenro Izu' lower right margin and inscribed with negative number and editioned '10 IND 453 # 1/20' lower left margin in pencilFurther bearing photographer's copyright stamp with signature, title, negative number, negative date, print date and edition number on reverse of mount in ink Edition 1/20 
  • Platinum palladium print  
  • 19⅜ x 13⅛ in. (49.3 x 33.4 cm.)
  • Date of negative: 2010Date of print: 2012

Provenance

Acquired directly from the artist circa 2011-12
Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
Private Collection

Condition

There are clamp marks in the upper left and right margin corners. Two pin-sized deposits, one in the lower left margin and the other in the upper center are possibly ink. This work is in over all good condition, as viewed. It is tipped to the mount, on the reverse in each corner. Colors are more neutral in reality. This work is in a temporary frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

The works of Japanese-born Kenro Izu invite quiet contemplation and a feeling of transcendence. After completing his higher education at Nihon University College of Art in Tokyo from 1969-1972, Izu moved to New York in 1972. Izu was originally inspired by the arresting works of American photographer Paul Strand. Widely known for his powerful, candid portraits and street photography, Izu appreciated Strand’s unique approach to landscapes, and sought to emulate it. Strand strove to capture the essence and history of a place or portrait: something which could only be created by immersing oneself long enough to unpack its true nature. He made his first trip to India in 1996, where he was invited to observe a Hindu cremation ritual on the banks of the River Ganges. This experience was the impetus that led the artist to return to the country several times and to capture these moments. The present works come from a series titled ‘Where Prayer Echoes’, executed in India between 2008 and 2012. Izu uses his own contact-printing process using Platinum/Palladium and a large format camera which he carries on his travels. His subjects are often caught in a moment of prayer or reflection and set against the backdrop of India’s holiest places, such the banks of the Yamuna River near the Taj Mahal or within places of worship. The grandiose settings for these images are gently muted by the customary ease with which the subjects perform their daily rituals. The result is a picture where both the landscape and its occupants are given equal importance: it is the symbiotic relation between them which lays at the heart of the series.