Birthe Piontek: Janus

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Birthe Piontek, "Melon, Janus series," 2020

archival print, edition of 7 + 1 AP, 17" x 23"

We are pleased to invite you to the opening of two exhibitions at Gallery Jones: Fei Disbrow, Catalogue of Stitches, and Birthe Piontek, Janus. Saturday, September 12, 1 - 5pm, RSVP required.

In an effort to maintain adequate physical distancing in the Gallery, please RSVP by September 11th with an indication of what time you would like to come that afternoon, i.e. 1:00 - 1:45, 1:45 - 2:30, 2:30 - 3:15, 3:15 - 4:00 or 4:00 - 4:45.

Curatorial Statement:

Much of Birthe Piontek's work to date has had an emotional gravitas peppered with a wry appreciation of the absurd. Her work is succinct, and using the photographic bounds of light, shadow, symbol and composition she is able to elucidate a narrative of place, time and human experience. In her new body of work titled Janus, this formalism comes up against the wave of change: change of body, change of mind, change of state of being. Disembodied elements of the artist's physical self interact with equally temporal set pieces such as gourds, flowers and fruit. In some cases, this unlikely alliance is forced into being by a pair of nylons: the absurd is beginning to dictate terms to the norm. Like the Roman god after whom the exhibition is named, Piontek is giving substance to the change that comes as deliberately as sunlight across a room.

- Shane O'Brien

Birthe Piontek: Janus

Piontek's work has been exhibited internationally, in both solo and group shows, and is featured in many private and public collections such as the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago and the Museum of Applied Arts in Gera, Germany. Her most recent book, Abendlied, received the Edward Burtynsky Grant in 2018 and was nominated by Time Magazine as one of the best photo books in 2019 . Piontek is an Assistant Professor of Photography in the Audain Faculty of Art at Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver.