In this exhibition, Amyn Nasser is portraying something beyond what is being exhibited and the true image is in the viewer’s consciousness for which the exhibition is a representation. The reality is concealed in the allusion of the illusion. – Ray Barnes
Amyn Nasser’s Voyeur Nocturne is a photographic celebration of Vancouver as the better known “city of glass.” With its high population density relative to most other North American cities, urban planning in Vancouver is characterized by high-rise residential and mixed-use development in the city centre as an alternative to urban sprawl. Glass condominium towers dominate the skyline and have been credited in contributing to the city’s high rankings in livability. Amyn Nasser has effectively captured this unique ‘feel’ which is so defining of Vancouver, where each layer symbolizes the excitement and vibrancy of inner city life. If windows are the eyes to the soul, can the same be said for the soul of a city?
After a ten-month long sojourn to various places in the city, the Voyeur Nocturne Series was born. It captured different viewpoints after the setting of the sun and the coming of the evening lights in the city. A good number of the amazing shots were a product of careful planning and consideration with their own share of opportunities and challenges. Coinciding with the 23rd Winter Olympiad, the exhibition strives to live up to the same Olympic spirit that humanity aspires for – higher, faster, stronger.
Amy Nasser is a self-taught visualist from Zanzibar and has become one of the leading photographers in the world. His work has graced the covers and editorial pages of the finest magazines including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Cosmopolitan. A well-traveled professional who is one of the most sought-after for international field missions in several African countries and at the same time is experienced in the mannerisms needed for his image.
“I believe in the photographer’s magic, the ability to stir the soul with light and shape and color. Through the photographer’s eyes a kiss becomes a romance, a stretch of fabric is a costume of endless possibilities, …a face has the playful vibrancy that describes a lifetime… I strive for a visual split second capture that tells a story with mood, style, motion, and mystery by creating powerful color, and striking black & white images. My juxtaposed vision is very much influenced by the East-West culture that I have grown up with.” – Amyn Nasser
Voyeur Nocturne will close on Monday, March 15, 2010
