Justine Cooper - Saved by Science

Homo Ergaster by Justine Cooper

I am not alone in finding museums, libraries and other collections particularly photogenic places. Hiroshi Sugimoto's photographs of the dioramas at the American Museum of Natial History here in New York are perhaps the most high profile examples of this, but art commenting on the collector impulse has a long and rich history. I received Art and Artifact: The Museum as Medium for my birthday this year, a book cataloging the various artists who have mimicked, mocked or otherwise commented on the museum experience in their works. In one respect I’m amazed at the volume of work that exists in this obscure niche, but then considering how self-absorbed the art world is, I shouldn’t be surprised.

A few weeks back kotte.org pointed to some wonderful museum photos by Justine Cooper, a photographer working in the American Museum of Natural History - the same locale for Sugimoto’s photos referenced above. She exactly captures museums' lonely spookiness. Wonderful photography, a different take from the Terry Evans work in the Field Museum that was shown at Yancey Richardson a couple of years back. Turns out she's showing at the Kashya Hildebrand gallery starting last weekend.

The Hildebrand gallery site is one of the best around, by the way. I only wish their use of Flash would accept direct linking/bookmarks.

Through June 4 at Kashya Hildebrand
531 W. 25th St.
(212) 366-5757