FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2021
Barbara Cole’s Appearances Takes New Form In Solo Exhibition At Bau-Xi Gallery
Solo exhibition at Bau-Xi Gallery debuts photographer Barbara Cole’s new subject matter w/ signature underwater transformation
Toronto, ON – Known for her immersive, ethereal underwater photography in which she suspends the human form in enigmatic waters, photographer Barbara Cole applies her signature look to new, transformative subject matter.
In Appearances, Cole attributes her dreamlike photography to “portraits” of anthropomorphized flowers. As the title of the series suggests, these images ask what it means to possess a form (human or otherwise) and what is considered worthy to be the subject of an artist’s attention. This exploration into transformation, nature, and beauty is marked by Cole’s exquisite use of water as a medium that naturally reshapes form.
By anthropomorphizing these flowers with stunning finesse, flitting between what we perceive as photography and painting, Cole expands the possibilities of the photograph and the act of empathy altogether. Isolated like all of us during lockdown, Cole began this series out of necessity but also as an exercise in connection. Each flower is given a human name, imbuing them with personalities, which, especially during a time of isolation, remind us of personalities we have all been longing to reconnect with.
By alluding to traditional representations of flowers through her unique contemporary lens, the photographs in Appearances embody a timeless sensibility that likewise further expands Cole’s prolific body of work.
Appearances will debut at Bau-Xi Gallery in Toronto, and will run July 10, 2021 – July, 24, 2021. More details below.
About Barbara Cole
Barbara Cole is a Toronto-based fine art photographer. She began her career modeling for a local newspaper out of high school before becoming their fashion editor for the following ten years. Her early start in fashion and self-taught practice informs her intuitive photography that shifts between tradition and invention. The underwater photography for which she is most known began in the 1990s out of her own pool, where she continues to experiment and deepen her body of work. Cole has held numerous exhibitions across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Her work has also been extensively commissioned internationally for corporate collections. She has exhibited in the Canadian Embassy in both Tokyo and Washington D.C. The acclaimed documentary series Snapshot: The Art of Photography II, features an episode devoted exclusively to Cole’s photographic practice.
Website: www.barbaracole.com
Instagram: @barbaracoleart
About Bau-Xi Gallery
Bau-Xi Gallery was founded in Vancouver in 1965 to showcase the many Canadian artists in need of gallery representation on the West Coast. Today, the Bau-Xi group of galleries represents emerging and established visual artists across a variety of media and genres, remaining committed to the promotion and presentation of exceptional contemporary art. Bau-Xi Gallery has flagship locations in Toronto and Vancouver. Bau-Xi Gallery acquired Foster/White Gallery (Seattle) in 2001, most recently acquiring Canada House Gallery (Banff) in 2018.
Website: www.bau-xi.com
Instagram: @bauxigallery
Details
Appearances
July 10, 2021 – July 24, 2021
Bau-Xi Gallery
350 & 340 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 1G5
416-977-0400
