The relationship between the viewer and a piece of art will be explored in the next Annex show at the Breadalbane Gallery through photographs taken and interpreted by Leo (Liu, Xin). The photographs on display, which Leo has manipulated, were taken at the May exhibition opening. All are welcome to attend the opening reception on August 14 from 6–8 pm. New work from other gallery artists will be on display in the Main Gallery.

What does a viewer feel and think when looking at a piece of art? How does one document the relationship between the viewer and the work?  What is the artist thinking when they watch someone engage with their work? For Leo, these questions form the perfect triangle.

Leo’s exhibit will have two layers. ”The first layer will focus on photographs that show how people respond to artworks, and how bodies, colours, conversations, light, and space become connected with the work,” explains Leo. “The second layer will be a smaller group of photo-based mixed-media works, where some photographs are developed further through painting, acrylic, reflective materials, box structures, or other surfaces. In this way, the photographs do not stay only as photographs. They return to an art-making process.”

The photographs in the upcoming show and their evolution into paintings are a step in the process of understanding the viewer’s thoughts and emotions. During the show, viewers and painters will explore those thoughts and emotions, which could ultimately result in new works of art, perhaps on the spot.