Nicholas Hughes U.K., b. 1963
The Sound of Space Breathing [Verse III, no. 11], 2018-2021
Silver gelatin on paper
Signed by the artist, on verso
Signed by the artist, on verso
40.6 x 50.8 cm
16 x 20 in
16 x 20 in
© Nicholas Hughes
'The Sound of Space Breathing [Verse III, no. 11]' emerges from Hughes' seven-year photographic journey along Cornish footpaths. He used his large-format camera to capture transcendental moments in nature. Rendered...
'The Sound of Space Breathing [Verse III, no. 11]' emerges from Hughes' seven-year photographic journey along Cornish footpaths. He used his large-format camera to capture transcendental moments in nature. Rendered in luminous silvery greys and deep blacks, the photograph reveals the rich tonal range of natural light through sophisticated darkroom techniques.
Through careful layering of imagery, Hughes creates rhythmic scenes in which "the wood grain is as the rippled puddle, the spacing of stars in the night sky akin to the flower heads breaking the surface of the pond." This visual rhythm emerges from Hughes' conception of photography as music rather than mere documentation, where images become songs that capture the harmonies of the earth.
The work embodies Hughes' philosophy that "through nature, all makes sense, all things flow one into the other". By eliminating human presence and focusing on these celestial-terrestrial connections, Hughes creates a meditative space where viewers can experience what he describes as "the sound of space breathing."
Through careful layering of imagery, Hughes creates rhythmic scenes in which "the wood grain is as the rippled puddle, the spacing of stars in the night sky akin to the flower heads breaking the surface of the pond." This visual rhythm emerges from Hughes' conception of photography as music rather than mere documentation, where images become songs that capture the harmonies of the earth.
The work embodies Hughes' philosophy that "through nature, all makes sense, all things flow one into the other". By eliminating human presence and focusing on these celestial-terrestrial connections, Hughes creates a meditative space where viewers can experience what he describes as "the sound of space breathing."