Claire Shropshall checks out Kate Cledwyn's debut solo show, Mirrored City, and gets all reflective. Sorry...
Tonight Mirrored City at 3 Bedfordbury in Covent Garden sees photographer Kate Cledwyn’s debut solo exhibition after swapping leafy Hampshire for the big smoke to promote her work. I, for one, am glad she did as the evening’s show presents a kaleidoscopic array of warped wonders.
The exhibition really is what it says on the tin – a series of reflected and distorted snapshots of London architecture. Inspired by the ever-changing nature of the capital’s urban landscape, each image takes on a life of its own as buildings morph into repeated patterns and glassy reflections. Each monument is mirrored and echoed in some way or another and the gallery becomes a patchwork quilt of futuristic structural designs.
Interestingly the photographs are printed on varying media. Aluminium and acrylic allude to themes of strength and beauty implicit within the building materials and canvas is apparently used for those landmarks with ‘surprisingly textural qualities’. There’s also a 3D installation in a darkened room downstairs; large internally lit perspex blocks house a few select images from the collection and take on an ethereal glow.
Cledwyn has hit on a bit of an obsession of mine – the mesmerising qualities of water. Maybe I’m biased (or just plain simple, like) but buildings, boats, trees and generally everything becomes more interesting when reflected off some watery depth. In ‘Flattering’ a seemingly mundane block of flats is transformed by explosions of light beaming through narrow windows, which ricochet off what looks like water below. The theme of reflection permeates the entire collection with columns and metalwork appearing to bounce off sheets of still liquid or glass.
It’s like a mutated trip round the streets of London featuring city sightseeing VIPs such as the London Eye and St Paul’s, as well as some lesser known vistas, and I find each photo strangely engaging. ‘Ben’ and ‘Minced’ transport you into Westminster through what feels like a tunnel of mirrors, whilst reflected staircase piece ‘Depth’ creates the dual illusion of being confronted by a steep flight of steps while simultaneously falling down a yawning hole. It’s all a bit Alice in Wonderland.
Homage is also paid to the conflation of historic and modern in the city – ‘Captured’ shows 18th century architecture reflected in the glossy facade of a contemporary office building. For me this image sums up the chaotic and evolving nature of London streets, intoning a pleasant synergy between old and new.
If the traditional ‘I Heart London’ postcard set against a backdrop of Big Ben or an inanely grinning palace guard doesn’t satisfy your inner tourist, I'd recommend checking out this collection for something a little different. Just don’t be disappointed when your next trip to the city’s hotspots doesn’t have you seeing double.
Mirrored City is at 3 Bedfordbury until 17th October 2010.
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