5 to See: This Weekend

This week’s selection delves into the concept of the every day, illuminating aspects of the quotidian in unexpected ways. Often using light as a medium, these photographic investigations meaningfully examine architectural forms and notions of the body.

Torbjørn Rødland: The Touch That Made You, Serpentine Gallery, London

Rødland’s (b. 1970) uncanny images disrupt familiar landscapes. Highlighting the constructed nature of compositions, his subversive work disseminates notions of the gaze, inviting the viewer’s extended – sometimes uncertain –  contemplation. Until 19 November. www.serpentinegalleries.org.

The Geometry of Light, Jeu de Paume, Paris

Lucien Hervé’s (b. 1910) monumental, transformative depictions of concrete structures play with shadow, space and abstraction. Juxtaposing the archaic and the contemporary, the artist investigates humanity’s relationship to the world by positing figures against sublime man made backdrops. From 18 November. www.jeudepaume.org.

Mario Testino. Undressed / Helmut Newton. Unseen / Jean Pigozzi. Pool Party, Helmut Newton Foundation, Berlin

This series of exhibitions run concurrently, exploring the iconic output of the three practioners. Testino’s (b. 1954) contribution unearths the physical and metaphorical notion of derobing, whilst Pigozzi’s (b. 1952) snapshots offer an intimate glimpse of the group’s glamorous lifestyle. A collection of Newton’s (b. 1920) archived prints, many previously unseen, complements the selection. Until 19 November. www.helmut-newton.com.

Buenos Aires – Southern Light, Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York

Michael Eastman’s (b. 1947) melancholy images posit the golden-age grandeur of the region’s late 19th century interiors against modern technologies. Breathing new life into ageing structures, Eastman illuminates doorways and stairwells in surprising ways. Until 20 January. www.houkgallery.com.

Industrial Landscapes, Museo Civico Archeologico, Bologna

Josef Koudelka’s (b. 1938) panoramas capture sites that have been transformed by human intervention. Displayed as part of Foto/Industria, the contributions use strong contrasts to create impressive scenes, transforming places of labour into thoughtful artistic arrangements. Until 19 November. www.fotoindustria.it.

Credits:
1.Torbjørn Rødland, Comb Over, 2015. Photography, Torbjørn Rødland
2. L’Escurial, Espagne, 1959. Lucien Hervé © Lucien Hervé, Paris
3. Helmut Newton, Heather looking through a keyhole, 1994. © Helmut Newton Estate.
4. Michael Eastman, Downstairs Landing, Buenos Aires, 2017. Courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery.
5.  © JOSEF KOUDELKA/MAGNUM PHOTOS