London Town
URBAN CANYON
View from the new Switch House at Tate Modern, London - October, 2016
BREXIT
Last week I returned from my trip to London where I continued my photography series of collaborating with local contemporary dancers using streets and other public places as stages.
Historically, the timing of my trip was very interesting. Last time I visited London in March of 2016, the Brexit vote was all talk and the outcome seemed to suggest that they stay in the European union. But in June, United Kingdom voted with a narrow margin to leave the European Union. So during my second trip this year the government is preparing for the exit. And that for sure was the talk of the town.
CULTURAL EXPLORATIONS
However, the cultural scene was as vibrant as ever. I fully immersed myself into the cultural offerings of theater and museums in this wonderful city. At the same time I was creating new photographic works with local contemporary dancers in different locations and neighborhoods in the city of over 8 million people. This new material will be showcased in my upcoming exhibits. I also have some interesting new video art coming up that will see its full premier next year.
FACETIME
View from the balcony in Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, London - a visitor facing a spotlight during PHILIPPE PARRENO: ANYWHEN immersive choreography of acoustics, sound lighting, flying objects and film - October, 2016
7PM ⫩ Treveris St., Southwark, London
dancer: Eloise Harulow
LONDON BOROUGHS
As a kid, geography was one of my favorite subjects at school. I am fascinated by maps and how they relate to reality. In some sense, the names of boroughs of London carry a similar significance to me. It is just a name, but with it, it symbolically carries a certain idea of the place.
I photographed in such boroughs as Southwark, City of London, Tower Hamlets, Camden & Westminster just to name a few. In my dance photography, I always try to carry over something unique about the place as well as the dancer.
"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson, September 20, 1777
RAIN DANCE series ⫩ Southwark, More London Riverside, London
dancer: Daniel Persson
SKYLINE OVER TATE MODERN ⫩ View from the new Switch House towards St Paul's Cathedral on the left and The City on the right. Tate Modern turbine hall and 99 meters high chimney are in the foreground.
DREAMS ⫩ Lower Thames Street, The City of London. The Shard, highest building in London, is in the background seen across the river Thames.
Dancer: Ana Badea
TUNNEL VISION series ⫩ Kings Cross station pedestrian tunnel, Camden, London.
Dancer: Vincent Malmberg
CANADA WATER ⫩ Canada Water is a freshwater lake and wildlife refuge in Rotherhithe in the Docklands in south-east London.
Dancer: Ana Badea
PORTRAIT OF A PHOTOGRAPHER (for once I am in front of the camera) ⫩ King's Cross pedestrian tunnel, London - photo by Andres Ortiz
GET IN TOUCH
I am always looking for custom orders, assignments and collaborations. Feel free to contact me when the Art of Photography is essential.
ABOUT ME
I am a fine art photographer based in Turku, Finland.
Photographically I explore and express my ideas about the human condition and its wide range of emotions.
Please visit vesaloikas.com often &
follow my Instagram @vloikas for my latest projects.
MORE LONDON ⫩ More London Riverside, London
dancer: Daniel Persson & Sarah Bateman
SEE THIS BLOG POST ON MY WEBSITE: https://vesaloikas.com/art-blog/london-town
MY PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS OF 2016:
My passion for printing my own photographs started in the 1990s, a pivotal time in the evolution of printmaking, when the first color inkjet printers became available. However, during those early years, there was a significant drawback: the inks didn’t last and faded in just a few years. This all changed dramatically with the introduction of carbon-based pigment inks. These inks offered longevity that was previously unattainable.
Now, the long-lasting prints I produce can endure more than a lifetime, showcasing colors that are not only lifelike but also reflective of my artistic vision. Through my journey in printmaking evolution, I have created numerous fine art prints, each telling its own unique story.