ISIS SOUSA
& OVE NESHAUG
'Valencia
Noir: The Beautiful, The Fantastic, and The Grotesque Of Valencia,
Spain'
Following
on from their beautiful photographic studies of the Norwegian
countryside in 'No Escapes Vol. 1 – Melancholic Beauty In Norwegian
Landscapes', Isis Sousa and Ove Neshaug turn their lenses to the
Spanish city of Valencia. More specifically it's rich and abundant
aesthetics of bats, beasts, grotesques, and mythological beings
carved into the stones of the ancient metropolis.
The book
is a photographic essay that not only records the sights, but also
delves into the history of some of the city's architecture, statues,
and churches. But it is the photography that is the star of the show.
The black and white images, high in contrast due to the Iberian sun,
not only capture the climate, but switch between documentary and
abstract styles depending on the subject. For instance the view form
the bottom of a spiral staircase takes on an otherworldly look as it
winds its way up into the distance, while the walls of The Quart
Towers stand solemnly against the modern streets. And because they
are captured in grainy monochrome, they have a timeless sense to them
that looks like they could have been taken now or fifty years ago.
The most
delightful part of the book though has to be toward the end with the
photographs of the General Cemetery of Valencia, with it's large and
ornate monuments in a range of artistic styles depicting everything
from bats and angels, to scenes of the day of judgement marking the
graves of the dead. It is a sight that easily rivals the celebrated
cemeteries of the rest of old Europe. For this alone a flight to
Valencia looks with the price of the ticket.
It is a
lovely book full of beautiful examples of Spanish gothic art that
will undoubtedly stir the imagination of anyone who opens it. The
heavily photographic nature means that this is a very quick and easy
read. The text are essentially footnotes to add context to the
pictures, and with 160+ images, they are brief and to the point. The
book on the whole is nicely designed with subtle ornate flourishes
added tot he pages to drive home the gothic subject mater within.
Some of
the image quality does vary in places but with Sousa and Neshaug
listing a phone camera in their equipment list at the beginning of
the book, this is to be expected. However a few blurred edges does
not detract from the beauty of the subject, and in fact it only adds
to that sense of timelessness referred to earlier with a more
analogue than digital look to them.
For those
interested in gothic art and architecture, this is a very nice and
easy book to pick up. The emphasis is all on the photography and the
city easily speaks for itself. Spain and it's hot weather may not be
the first choice for the gothically inclined who enjoy city breaks,
however this book may make you think twice about your next holiday
destination.
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