Jesse Byerly

PORTALS

October 8 - November 19, 2022

PORTALS is a photo and light-based installation that seeks to reorient our experience of the world. Mirroring the Earth’s sphere, 8 images were printed and adhered to 3’ hardwood circles. The photos range in content from macro landscapes taken at Yellowstone to micro details of everyday life such as shoelaces. When hung together at the same scale the relationships that form our natural and constructed world begin to emerge. Color changing LED strip lighting lines the perimeter of the gallery and is the only light source. As the colors slowly change, different aspects of the images are emphasized. The hyper-saturated light creates a mesmerizing experience that unifies the imagery despite its juxtaposed content. This synergy mirrors the world as we know it in the Anthropocene; a geological time period wherein humans are the dominant influence on the environment. Small pieces of trash are just as integrated into the natural world as awe-inducing landscapes. Each image acts as a portal to a new way of viewing the world’s vastness and minutia, but mostly importantly our place amongst it all.

This exhibition is part of the 2022 FotoFocus Biennial. Now in its sixth iteration, the 2022 FotoFocus Biennial encompasses more than 100 projects at Participating Venues across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, and Columbus, and features more than 600 artists, curators, and participants—the largest of its kind in America.