‘ROIDS! marks two world premiers; not only the gigantic Polaroid prints, but also an amazing selection of never before made available photographs will be on view for the first time ever!
Albert Watson started using Polaroid on the back of his Hasselblad in 1972, and in 1984, on the back of his 4×5 Horseman view camera. Since he began, he has taken more than 100,000 Polaroids for a vast array of shoots: for art projects, magazines, ad campaigns and everything in between. Polaroids, especially in the beginning, were simply a way to make sure the camera systems were operating properly and the lighting matched my vision for the photograph. As time went on, Polaroids became more and more important, and sometimes they had their own beauty that transcended their significance as mere tests. Polaroids have a unique color structure and a unique color range. With the ‘Roids! project, Albert Watson – who has been recently awarded an Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his lifetime contribution to and achievements in photography – became interested in scanning his Polaroids at a massive resolution. This creates an effect as if you would observe them under a microscope, which shows all their beauty along with all their flaws. Watson is creating a fascinating combination of old technology in the new digital world. By blewing the scan of the Polaroids up to almost 2.5 meters (100 inches), Watson makes their attraction physically perceptible.
WHERE Christophe Guye Galerie AG, Dufourstrasse 31, 8008 Zürich
WHEN 9th of September – 24th of October 2015
images: courtesy of Christophe Guye Galerie
