Valerii Konkov - Monchegorsk, a city among beautiful mountains

February 21, 2020 by Gergo Farkas in Friday Feature

Monchegorsk is an industrial city on the Kola Peninsula, whose life is centered around a metallurgical plant. Translated from Sami Monchegorsk means: a city among beautiful mountains. The city is surrounded by several hills, in the depths of which deposits of copper and Nickel ores have been discovered. In the 1930s, the construction of a factory began here, and a city began to be built around it. Now Monchegorsk plant is part of the financial giant «Norilsk Nickel». Unfortunately, people in cities like Monchegorsk don’t have many job options at hand. That’s why most of the population end up working in dangerous factories that poison the air with industrial emissions, causing several respiratory diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and even lung cancer. The government wants to keep harmful emissions a secret and people receive threats for what they want to tell about what is happening in the city.

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Alone Together by Aristotle Roufanis

November 09, 2018 by Gergo Farkas in Friday Feature

Since 2016, Aristotle Roufanis has been creating super-high-definition images of urban landscapes that are an intimate look into the lives of city-dwellers and their loneliness. The large composite images of his Alone Together series are the result of dedicated observation, as he photographs the cities he visits from dusk till dawn: after setting up his equipment on a high-rise or hill, the artist proceeds to patiently capture the city below click by click, in a process that can take several hours. In Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire, the angels are constantly listening to the voices in the city; in Alone Together, the photographer is silently peering into the city’s concrete body with his lens as it sleeps.

“The bigger the city, the lonelier we feel”, comments Aristotle, who recently moved to London from another bustling urban centre, namely his hometown of Athens, Greece. “In a big city, we are very efficient in covering all our consumerist needs, but we forget our need for companionship. It is important for people to understand that although lonely, they are not alone. Individuality does not equal to alienation.”

Apart from it being a feat of technique and skill, the sheer size and extreme amount of detail seen in Roufanis’ images have a very particular emotional impact: they make the urban landscape clearly visible all across their surface, which is something we cannot experience when looking at a vast expanse with naked eye. That also makes the images lose their depth and become flat, like a veil that protects the tender humanness hidden behind it. It is said that Pythagoras of Samos taught his initiates from behind a black veil, so that they would focus on his teachings rather than his image. In a similar way, we need the intricate black veil of these images to help us shift our focus from how the city appears, in order to focus on what it tells— that is, to actually feel the intensity of the many soliloquies that are being spoken behind its dark walls.

To make each little light visible within the vast urban jungle, Aristotle has deployed a technique of super high-resolution photography, which is then complemented by meticulous digital editing that can take up to one month for each photo.

The images for the Alone Together series, when presented in an exhibition context, are shown in extremely high-resolution prints that are at least 160 cm and up to 5 metres wide, in order to convey as much detail as possible. This enables the viewer to explore different areas of the image, and perhaps identify with particular lights or even people seen in the photos: the resolution of the images is so high, that tiny figures can sometimes be seen standing in the windows, perhaps contemplating the city outside or doing everyday things in their home.

London, Paris, Hong Kong, Miami, Athens: for Aristotle, urban habitats and the loneliness of city dwellers are surprisingly the same wherever you go. By isolating only a few illuminated windows in each photo, the artist seeks to both raise awareness about the epidemic of urban isolation in big cities and take a positive stance about it. Composition and balance here are less about form and colour than about organization of content: which windows are kept illuminated within the sea of dark anonymous apartment buildings, and what do they contain? A sofa, a painting, a person behind a curtain: all these glimpses of an otherwise uneventful evening after work (or maybe the last excruciating minutes of a long sleepless night) are transformed into dramatic events full of emotional tension.

Cities are not fragile. They are cruel. How on earth did this unloving condition become the habitat of choice for humans? Some say that we build cities because we have always lived together and need each other’s company. But probably it’s the other way around: being close to each other is how we survive the city and its trappings in the first place. The softness of human relationships nestles within the city like when a mollusk finds shelter in a rock. And sometimes we need a kind observer to raise the mirror and show us how we live, in order to realize just how bright a lonely light can shine at night.

Follow Aristotle’s work on Instagram and visit his website to see more of his incredible photography.

Brett Patman - Hotel Motel 101

August 03, 2018 by Gergo Farkas in Friday Feature, magazine

Brett Patman is an Australian photographer with a soft spot for Motels. His project, Hotel Motel 101 is a compilation of photographs from one hundred and one different roadside motels within a 170 KM radius of Sydney, photographed late at night or very early in the morning, highlighting the variety of appearances from place to place.

The collection covers the whole spectrum of roadside motels from the beachy pastel coloured boutiques, to seedy, unkempt establishments with some shocking accounts in the TripAdvisor reviews.

How did you become a Motel connoisseur? What made you pick them as your subject matter?

I don't know if I'd go so far to call myself a motel connoisseur, I just thought there was a good idea in something to do with motels but wasn't really sure what it was at the time. It's an idea I've been sitting on for a while but never really knew where to start, then one night I was watching Mindhunter, and there were these cool looking motel scenes and that was more or less the catalyst, I went out the next night and just started shooting and it all went from there.

Grandstand Motel, Warwick Farm | You should probably just read the google reviews before you decide to stay here. Ambiguous pricing found appears to offer long term, overnight, half day and hourly rates.

Sapphire Palms Motel, The Entrance | A 15-minute walk from Blue Bay beach, this low-key redbrick motel is also 9 km from Wyrrabalong National Park and 13 km from Terrigal Beach. Offering free Wi-Fi, the informal rooms also have flat-screen TVs, mini… — Sapphire Palms Motel, The Entrance | A 15-minute walk from Blue Bay beach, this low-key redbrick motel is also 9 km from Wyrrabalong National Park and 13 km from Terrigal Beach. Offering free Wi-Fi, the informal rooms also have flat-screen TVs, minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Upgraded quarters add kitchenettes and patios/balconies. Room service is available. Breakfast is offered for a surcharge. There's also an outdoor pool with a waterslide, as well as a BBQ area, a furnished gazebo, gardens and a kids' play area. Parking is free. $92 - $110 per night.

Why did you feel it was important to document these places?

In all honesty, I didn't feel a sense of importance other than to create art, it was purely a creative outlet for me to do this, but looking back I guess the days of motels are numbered with the rise of things like Airbnb, so in that sense I think it is a record of a way of life that won't be around forever, and that does have some importance.

How long did you spend on the road hunting for motels? How did you find the ones you wanted to photograph?

I think I spent about 3 or 4 weeks shooting motels every second night or so, sometimes consecutive nights too. Regarding finding them, it was just a matter of putting 'motel' into google maps and then making a list of every single one I could find heading in any given direction, I'd then compile that into a run for that night, and that's really all there was to it. I didn't care what they looked like, as long as they were a motel and no people were hanging around, I'd shoot it.

Flinders Motel, Wollongong | A 6-minute walk from North Wollongong train station, this low-key motel is also a 14-minute walk from North Wollongong Beach and 1.9 km from the WIN Entertainment Centre arena. Airy rooms feature flat-screen TVs, minifri… — Flinders Motel, Wollongong | A 6-minute walk from North Wollongong train station, this low-key motel is also a 14-minute walk from North Wollongong Beach and 1.9 km from the WIN Entertainment Centre arena. Airy rooms feature flat-screen TVs, minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Some add bunk beds. Amenities include complimentary parking, a Thai restaurant and a communal kitchenette, as well as a guest laundry and a BBQ area. $140 Per night.

What is it about motels that make them so enduring in our popular culture? Are they as ingrained in the public psyche in Australia as they are in North America?

There's this specific element of mystery with motels, who has been there, who is there now, what are all these people doing here, where are they going, none of which you're likely ever to get an answer, but it's intriguing all the same. I don't really know how they are viewed in the American psyche compared to Australia, but from what I gather it is probably similar. Most Australians have a connection to motel stays in one way or another, everyone recalls summer holidays along the coast in a dank motel, but everyone still has fond memories even though the physical attributes of a motel are pretty tragic.

The Entrance Reef Resort, The Entrance | The Entrance Reef Resort is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests in Central Coast. The hotel offers guests a range of services and amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience. Faci… — The Entrance Reef Resort, The Entrance | The Entrance Reef Resort is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests in Central Coast. The hotel offers guests a range of services and amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience. Facilities like laundry service, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park are readily available for you to enjoy. Guestrooms are fitted with all the amenities you need for a good night's sleep. In some of the rooms, guests can find hair dryer, television LCD/plasma screen, air conditioning, seating area, ironing facilities. Enjoy the hotel's recreational facilities, including outdoor pool, before retiring to your room for a well-deserved rest. Friendly staff, great facilities and close proximity to all that Central Coast has to offer are three great reasons you should stay at The Entrance Reef Resort. Price unavailable.

The Fontainebleau Motor Inn, Liverpool | With a stay at The Fontaine Bleau Inn in Casula, you'll be convenient to Westfield Liverpool and Liverpool Hospital. This motel is within the vicinity of Bankstown Golf Club and Crest Sporting Complex. Make y… — The Fontainebleau Motor Inn, Liverpool | With a stay at The Fontaine Bleau Inn in Casula, you'll be convenient to Westfield Liverpool and Liverpool Hospital. This motel is within the vicinity of Bankstown Golf Club and Crest Sporting Complex. Make yourself at home in one of the 30 guestrooms. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite. $99 - $150 per night.

Did you run into any odd situations? Anything memorable from the visited places?

I was probably the odd situation myself in most cases. There was one motel where I encountered someone who questioned what I was doing. It was late at night and was around the back taking a photo of the accommodation entrance. Almost straight away, a security guard emerged from the shadows and said: "You can't do that mate, this is private property" I responded, "Oh sorry I was just taking a photo of the sign, I'm going now anyway." He had this completely bewildered look on his face. He looked at the sign I'd just photographed, paused, looked back at me and said, "Yeah, but it's private property" almost like he was asking a question. I said, "Oh sorry I didn't realise it was private property, I just wanted a photo of the sign, I'll go now". With a furrowed brow and a totally perplexed look on his face, he shook his head and walked away.

Thirroul Beach Motel | A 3 minutes' walk from Thirroul Beach, this simple redbrick motel is also 1 km from Thirroul train station and 20 km from Symbio Wildlife Park. Featuring free Wi-Fi and contemporary artwork, the bright, relaxed rooms also have… — Thirroul Beach Motel | A 3 minutes' walk from Thirroul Beach, this simple redbrick motel is also 1 km from Thirroul train station and 20 km from Symbio Wildlife Park. Featuring free Wi-Fi and contemporary artwork, the bright, relaxed rooms also have flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes with microwaves and tea and coffeemaking facilities, and tables and chairs. Some add sofas, and air-conditioning is not available. $165 per night.

Did you do some personal research and stayed in some of the pictured establishments?

Other than looking up places to shoot and reading the reviews (sort by least stars every time) I didn't research a lot beyond that. I've only stayed in one of the motels I shot, but that was almost exactly thirty years ago to the day.

How accurate are the reviews on TripAdvisor? You must be an expert by now.

I'd say they are pretty accurate. You get a pretty good feeling of how bad a motel might be just by looking at it, of course not all things present themselves in this way, but if it looks like hell on the outside, you can be sure it's not going to be better inside.

Richmond Inn, Richmond | Less than an hour from Katoomba, Blue Mountains and Sydney. Seconds away from public transport and restaurants. Features include Bar, Bottle Shop, Bistro, TAB, Beer Garden. Live Entertainment; Thursday Karaoke, Friday Live B… — Richmond Inn, Richmond | Less than an hour from Katoomba, Blue Mountains and Sydney. Seconds away from public transport and restaurants. Features include Bar, Bottle Shop, Bistro, TAB, Beer Garden. Live Entertainment; Thursday Karaoke, Friday Live Bands, Saturday DJ. Bistro Boasts $10 Lunch Specials Monday - Friday. The motel offers clean, quiet and comfortable accommodation with convenient off-street parking. Fully equipped with Wi-Fi, Air-Con, T.V and tea coffee making facilities. Price unavailable.

To view Brett's project in its entirety visit Lost Collective. His Instagram feed is also well worth a follow!

Maury Gortemiller - Make Believe

April 06, 2018 by Gergo Farkas in Friday Feature

The series “Make Believe” pairs original photographs with reconfigured text from Donald Trump’s 1987 book The Art of the Deal. Each image title derives from one specific page via a Dadaist “cut-up” approach, in which words and phrases are decontextualized, reordered and repurposed. While Trump’s personality and reputation certainly form a considerable presence in the work, the images and the titles are not meant to refer specifically to the President or the present political climate. Rather, the imagery and text are often intended to lampoon the braggadocio and surliness of the authorial voice. In other instances, images evoke human qualities that I identify as absent or lacking in the book: a capacity for wonder, humility, and a recognition of one’s shortcomings. Ultimately, I intend the series as an antidote and corrective to unbridled egotism and nationalism.