Roman Road
Photo London 2016

Roman Road is very pleased to be participating at the second edition of Photo London with a solo presentation of Antony Cairns’ recent works. Featuring a selection of aluminium silver gelatin coated plates as well as works from his E.I. Totem (2015) series, our stand explores the latest developments and innovative approaches of Cairns’ contemporary practice.

Cairns’ interest in photography does not only lie in the content of his imagery but moreover in the layering and evolution of the process. Following his studies at the London College of Printing (1999-2002), he has been experimenting with different methods of producing his nocturnal photographs of cities by night, creating series that progress his body of work into new realms of photographic printing.

Originating as black and white negatives on film, he began developing his images on aluminium sheets, employing the spills and imperfections of the complex process to produce intricate, abstract works. Alongside a collection of Cairns’ individual LDN images, the display will present selected pieces from his LDN3 (2014) – the third instalment of his ongoing series, which consists of fifty 23 x 18.5 cm aluminium prints taken in new urban spaces in London.

Cairns’ photographs have been reproduced in a number of handmade publications, none however as uniquely than in his recent LDN EI (2015); made from recycled e-book tablets, this book presents his entire archive bound in electrophoretic ink. Inspired by the results of this publication, the artist has evolved a collection of works that show his imagery captured within e-ink screens. Displayed upon wooden plinths, the screens are encapsulated in specially made Perspex frames to form his E.I. Totem series. As e-ink screen becomes photograph and photograph becomes object, Cairns’ totems ingeniously challenge the boundaries of art categorisation.

Among the presentation of his varied photographs and sculptural pieces, all of the artist’s handmade publications will be available to view at our stand.

In addition to our display at Photo London, Antony Cairns will be exhibiting a selection of works, including a portfolio of prints made during his residency at the Benrido Collotype Atelier, at KYOTOGRAPHIE (23 April – 22 May 2016) in Kyoto, Japan. Further new works by the artist will also be presented in his solo exhibition OSC – Osaka Station City at Roman Road from 6 May until 3 June 2016.