Traces Of Time, 2012
David Burdeny: back to Artist
Artist Statement
These photographs depict a variety of iconic cityscapes, rural landscapes and interiors in Italy and France. They formally hover somewhere between past present and future, inviting the viewer to question the historical value of these places and how we as tourists experience them. Cities and landscapes are like living organisms, they continuously evolve, grow, die and mutate. I’m interested in revealing the invisible features of these places that are hidden behind progress and 21st century conveniences.
While the title “Traces of Time” initially refers to temporality as understood in relation to mortality and finitude, it also suggests a reversal of that by re-reading or looking back at history and historical images. Often referencing historical vantage points found in period paintings, etchings and postcards, the images don’t look like the spaces depicted. From a slowly decaying Tuscan Villa and French pier, to an extravagantly renovated Venetian Palazzo, these images are intentionally nostalgic.
In the field, I would walk, drive and let happenstance find my way. Often waiting for hours or even days for the proper skies to form, a crane to swing out of the way or the city to rest, I’d find inspiration in the simplest of places. Certain colours have been drained of life while others are used to prop them up – referencing the fall and winter months in which I made this work. But above all, these images are about the anticipation and wonder you get when traveling to a place for the first time.
Artist Biography
Vancouver, Canada, based David Burdeny has exhibited with the Jennifer Kostuik Gallery since 2001, showcasing his images from the world over, including Antarctica, Iceland, Brazil, China, Burma, Cambodia, France, Italy, Canada and the USA. Known for his finely composed photographs, David Burdeny has spent the past 20 years exploring a variegated photographic Landscape ranging from minimal seascapes, ornate European interiors to abstract aerial images. Widely collected in Canada, the USA, Asia and Europe, the sheer beauty of David’s images has firmly placed him within the realm of Canada’s most sought after photo-based artists. David’s willingness to take risks, eschew dogma and continuously pursue his innate curiosity for new subjects and themes has become a signature element in his work. Be it mounting a camera beneath a self -built drone, shooting from the deck of an Antarctic bound icebreaker or waiting for an ocean tide to advance, David faithfully imbeds his own formal signature into each and every image further expressing a lifelong passion for the built environment and the camera’s interpretation of it. Distinctly David Burdeny, the photographs are rigorous yet graceful, inviting the viewer to form their own narrative as if they too were passing through space or gazing into the horizon for the very first time.
David Burdeny’s Masters in Architecture and Interior Design background combined with his upbringing in the vast Canadian prairies provides the template for his keen technical ability, enduring patience and minimalist aesthetic. Recently moving from using large format film to now the finest available digital cameras and precision optics, his images are rendered large and detailed. A Bright Future- Photographs of Russian Subways, Theaters and Palaces 2015 received an explosion of media interest, especially in the UK and Russia. Burdeny was in New York City to receive his First Place Award from IPA for Avata Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia in the Category of Historic Architecture, and was interviewed for the most recent articles for The Guardian UK and Wired publications amongst several others. In 2012, the Ancora Series of 2010 was exhibited at the Centre for Photographic Art, Carmel CA, Curated by Richard Gadd. Burdeny has won several gold awards in international art photography competitions, most significantly receiving International Photographer of the Year in the Nature category for Canada, revealed at the Lucie Awards Ceremony in New York City, October 2008. His first book Shorelines sold out in both the limited collector edition and trade publication. He has 10 Limited Edition Photographic Series currently offered and is represented by other art dealers in Canada, the USA and Europe. His second hard cover book is A Bright Future, 2015 with text by esteemed writer and translator, Rosamund Bartlett.
Pricing
Loose Print Pricing
21 x 21 inches – $3,200
21 x 26 inches – $3,300
32 x 32 inches – $6,300
32 x 40 inches – $6,600
44 x 44 inches – $7,800
44 x 55 inches – $8,000
59 x 59 inches – Price Upon Request
59 x 73.5 inches – Price Upon Request
1070 Homer Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6B 2W9, Canada
T. 604.737.3969
E. info@kostuikgallery.com