Michael Jang

08Aug06

Michael Jang left his home in the rural Northern California town of Marysville almost 30 years ago. He left behind cowboys, rodeos and Stetson hats for the hipness of the San Francisco Art Institute, from which he graduated in 1977.”I look for anything present time that looks like it could be from the past,” said Jang, a third-generation Chinese American. “When you shoot in black and white, it’s timeless. It’s kind of like being a time traveler.”

Jang skillfully uses film noir techniques to give objects and people a slightly decayed look. In his quest to preserve the old by capturing the present, Jang’s photographs evoke a sense of loss and a feeling that any attempts at preservation only belie the finality of the passage of time. His use of noir-esque lighting adds to the atmosphere of helplessness in the face of unstoppable inertia.

While some have criticized staged photography for appearing too contrived, Jang’s subtle touch succeeds in bringing drama and urgency to his work.

http://www.michaeljang.com/

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