New exhibition features stunning images from the western Wellington hills

A new exhibition by artistic photographer Jack Kaptein shows images of Wellington as we’ve never seen it before.

Photography of space opens at Bowen Galleries on Monday August 17 and runs until September 5. The stunning photographic collages feature images from the capital’s western hills, captured with Kaptein’s own “perspective system” of photography.

Kaptein explains that the technique involves joining photographic fragments into one large canvas, overlapping views to give more dimension and depth.

“A single image photo is very limited,” he says. “It’s basically like looking through one eye, shutting out your spatial perception. This technique works with surface and form to create dynamic spaces.”

His main influences were Jan Dibbets and David Hockney, who is better known as a painter but also experimented with artistic photography.

The technique can be challenging for the artist but is very effective for the viewer, says Kaptein.
“It’s a logical process. You can follow it and undo what I’ve done. It’s very complicated though moving perspectives around. It can do your head in. I certainly ended up with a few migraines while trying to work it out.”

Kaptein has been working on the photographs for the last two years. He lives in Karori and has a great fondness for the western hills. Most of the shots are around the skyline of Johnson’s Hill.

“There is great light up there and there’s a strong spatial dynamic. It’s very inspiring.”

All the exhibition pieces are for sale.

ENDS

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