Renner Gallery Presents Artist Mark Jenkins
An exhibition of his photographic works with the element of water

 

After a successful solo exhibition in San Francisco last August, Mark Jenkins conjures water as a glistening medium for his new works of liquid illusion with figures and botanicals. His fresh perspective on surface and droplets draws in the viewer closer, perhaps capturing a glimpse of oneself in a reflection from the detail of the deep and richly crafted print.

Jenkins graduated from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, after studying photography, design and painting. He has had works published in the book “Self-Exposure” (Universe/Rizzoli 2005), and “(Not Only) Blue” magazine from Sydney.

Jenkins spent his junior year of art school in Rome, “back when you could still sneak into much of the Forum when it was closed.” His later travels to Italy profoundly influenced his approach to his art.

Jenkins draws inspiration from many sources. “There’s a part of my brain that is constantly taking mental snapshots - the play of light against a concrete wall or a particular old oak tree I pass every day on my commute,” he says. “I’m very attracted to old, crumbling places like the forts in the Presidio and ruins in Italy.”

He draws inspiration from the male form as well. When he was a kid, he spent hours up in his grandmother’s attic library that was full of art books. “I was particularly drawn to the artistic anatomy books,” he confesses. “Who knew?”

Jenkins uses 3-dimensional computer modelling and image software to combine the reality and illusionary elements for his work.“I love taking pictures. But for me the real challenge is after the
shoot, moving the images to another level.”

He admits, “The hardest thing about this method is that it’s very time-consuming, and it’s hard to know when to quit. I’ve spent many hours going overboard, then had to pull back to something more subtle.”

Many of his images include raindrops or flowing water caught mid-fall, layered on top of the model’s image. “I find that water is the perfect element for illusion work, since it normally flows in just one direction. Changing the direction is a subtle, but an immediately graspable ploy.” He elaborates, “I carefully ‘bend’ parts of the image to get the desired curls and twists not normally found in nature.”

“The response from the community has been terrific,” he says. “Receiving so many positive comments and high-praise comparisons to famous photographers is all new for me.” Adding, “I believe that my approaches are fresh, rooted in classicism, and yet have shades of darkness and
edgy tensions.”

Renner Gallery is in the Castro at 2344 Market Street near Noe. Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 am to 7 pm. RennerGallery.com 866 822 1390