The Shadow Museum Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Shadow Museum

Basel, Switzerland

Imagine, if you will, a museum where the focus of attention is not the object, the document, the artwork. Imagine that all these things are hidden from your view, and only their shadows are on display. In this museum the Mona Lisa becomes just a dull little oblong, whilst two pieces of wire wrapped around a half eaten Christmas cake might create a display to move the soul.

Imagine the shadows of historical events, both real and metaphysical.

Enter, if you dare, the room devoted to analytical psychology and the Jungian Shadow complex.

Yes, Basel has a veritable cornucopia of museums but The Shadow Museum, if only it existed, would surely head the pack. Running a close second, The Tinguely Museum displays the often gigantic mechanical sculptures of Jean Tinguely with such style that the shadows do indeed create fascinating artworks in their own right - perhaps even moving one to consider a museum composed entirely of shadows.

Regards

chicken, baba_flies, Cretense, avene has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sebinho342 (18736) 2009-08-03 11:38

don't know what it is, don't have time to read your note, but i like the work you did there ... smooth and structurated in its destructuration
game of shadows, projections, i like that

rbassin (4217) 2009-08-03 13:09

Bonsoir Colin,
Une image originale, cette création autour des ombres est bien réalisée.
Bonne soirée
Roland

baba_flies (7975) 2009-08-04 2:12

Hello Colin! They still stand in never ending lines for Mona Lisa to see if she still smiles :))) but I am always open for some wire hanging down the wall too. I mean we have to grow, don't we, and find new inspiration every once in a while? Beautiful shadow play, almost psychedelic, easy to get lost in this different world. I remember when they installed a Tinguely in Zuerich, I was just some years old but my father took me there and he did not understand much, was maybe even shaking his head, but at least he took me there. Great shot, Colin, very smooth, love the color. You were so creative in Basel ... Barbara.

Cretense (55904) 2009-08-04 3:59

Hello Colin!

Very impressive and very artistic photo, and a fantastic idea behind this shadow museum! Excellent framing and composition, great light managment, I like the almost monochrome effect! Congratulations!

Hercules

delpeoples (5938) 2009-08-04 4:11

Hi colin, quick! Patent your idea before someone pinches it! The photo is extremely artistic, very abstract and beautifully rendered. And I love your Note. TFS and have a good Tuesday, Lisa.

sevy (13348) 2009-08-04 4:58

Hello Colin,

You are going on with your work on the shadows. The result is really interesting. It makes me think about Rorschach test with ink stain.

Yves.

avene (10944) 2009-08-06 10:47

one of the most creative works I've seen lately. and I'm not talking only about the photo itselft - for me the title and the note are almost equally important. you have managed to create a complete presentation that leaves me thinking and daydreaming about how the Shadow Museum might look, even imagining a project where we would create a collection of images "taken" in that museum.
love the shot, Colin, goes straight to my favourites.

best,
Kristine

Ninello52 (3322) 2009-10-09 13:31

Ciao Colin!
Magnifica composizione giocata sulle trasparenze della materia, sulle ombre e sulle luci! Molto belle le scale dei grigi! Intuizione geniale!
Buon week! Nino.