ART FEED: Benjamin Løzninger’s Smoke//Fire

by | May 23, 2013 | ART

Benjamin Løzninger is quite the renaissance man–the French-born artist, who currently resides in Brooklyn, also makes music, directs videos, and works as a sound engineer, among many other things.

Benjamin Løzninger is quite the renaissance man–the French-born artist, who currently resides in Brooklyn, also makes music, directs videos, and works as a sound engineer, among many other things. He helped launch Super!, a Parisian musical talent agency that helped produce 2012’s Pitchfork Paris festival. When he’s not touring in support of his music (his latest release is the 2011 album Moving Targets), he works with FrenchBK, a creative collective he founded that’s named after his status as a transatlantic expatriate.

And somewhere in there, Løzninger also finds time to take artistic photographs. His latest project is entitled Smoke//Fire, and features painted and/or digitally treated photographs of Brooklyn cityscapes, to which Løzninger has added the black smoke of nearby flames. It seems a subtle comment on the times of economic and political uncertainty we live in… but really, the presence of allegory is up to the viewer to determine. Løzninger’s fiery scenes are not actively frightening, but evoke the trembling sense of disquiet one can feel when catching a scene of immense devastation out of the corner of your eye as you go about your daily routine.

A burning city. Thick smoke clouds fill the air with an intense smell. History always repeats itself: as at Nero’s times, a devastating fire run through the streets, through the buildings, threatening people’s life. Was it an arson or just an accident? The Smoke // Fire series is speaking about self-introspection through the discovery a new city, experimenting mystery, fascination, repulsion and sometimes fear.

Explore all facets of Benjamin Løzninger’s work at the following links:

Home


http://www.lozninger.com
http://www.elektriskgonner.com
http://www.frenchbk.com

Marilyn Drew Necci

Marilyn Drew Necci

Former GayRVA editor-in-chief, RVA Magazine editor for print and web. Anxiety expert, proud trans woman, happily married.




more in art

Sunday Funday! An All Woman Comedy Night For Charity

This Sunday, April 28th, Richmond Funny Bone is the place to be for an unforgettable evening of comedy while helping out some animals at the same time. Orchestrated by seasoned comedian and comedy teacher Tim Loulies, this all-women comedy night is set to support Ring...

GoFundME for Gallery5! Support A New Chapter For A Richmond Icon

Gallery5, a cornerstone of Richmond's First Fridays celebrations, commemorated its 19th anniversary last week—a milestone shared with us at RVA Magazine. This cherished institution is not just a gallery but a community hub, known for its unwavering support of local...

Adam Scott and GWAR: Merging Time and Music in Photo

We are back to Waynesboro, Virginia to catch up with photographer Adam Scott on his latest project. Adam has been superimposing vintage GWAR photos onto their modern-day locations in Richmond highlighting the city's evolution, or de-evolution, depending on your...

Need Space to Paint? 17th Street Studios is a Painter’s Paradise

Down in Shockoe Bottom, a small project is merging the worlds of art and community in a way that speaks to the city's evolving needs. Sarah Salo, a Richmond-born artist now navigating the bustling fashion industry of New York, finds herself at the intersection of this...

Chandler Has Gone Viral, Again

When your friend from far away Portugal hits you up with a message like, "Have you seen this? Do you know this guy? He's from Richmond and he is all over TikTok!" you can't help but check it out. And when you discover it's Chandler Matkins, it's almost a given—of...

Topics: