Portals

In Portals, Thomas Demand explores architectural spaces and structures that hold historical and cultural significance. The eleven exquisite lithographs reflect the complex narratives of each site. These works blend Demand's signature photographic precision with a profound sense of historical reflection, offering a powerful commentary on the passage of time, the persistence of memory, and the role of physical spaces in embodying human history. Gemini has a long history of working with the most accomplished artists of our time, and Thomas Demand is no exception. Introduced by John Baldessari, Gemini quickly extended an invitation to Demand, and in 2019 the collaboration on this extraordinarily complex project began. Now, nearly 5 years later, the series is completed. The journey of the lithographs in the Portals suite is as intricate as the subjects they portray. Demand's process began with photographs of building façades, which were then transformed into three-dimensional paper sculptures in his studio. These were then photographed, and the images were subsequently hand printed as lithographs. Special attention was given to capturing the fine details and textures within each image. The suite of eleven lithographs was printed using 90 photolithography plates and 133 colors, with a final halftone added to create the impression of a pictorial image that reaches beyond the graphic qualities of mere illustration. Delicate embossed areas, added to the skies, windows, shadows and alcoves, further enrich their depth and texture. This cycle of deconstruction, construction, and reconstruction is evident in the final works, a process rooted in the photographic realm but one that showcases both subtle and strong blended colors that enhance the architectural forms, shapes, and shadows. Demand began as a sculptor and took up photography to capture his ephemeral constructions. In selecting his subject matter, Demand begins with a preexisting image, often relevant to a political event, which he translates into life-size models made of colored paper and cardboard, which are destroyed once they are photographed. In his studio practice, his photographs are typically mural-scale; Demand's Gemini lithographic editions are more intimate in size, yet similarly intricate in their craftsmanship and thought-provoking in their commentary on memory, history, and space.

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535 West 24th Street

New York, NY