Manipulating Reality: How Images Redefine the World

Something is not quite right about these images from the exhibition at the Centro di Cultura Contemporanea Strozzina in Firenze Italy. But that's OK, because they are meant to be that way. The exhibit "Manipulating Reality: How Images Redefine the World" is designed specifically to explore how modern images can be manipulated to redefine the reality. The image above for example is NOT of a model. It is actually an image shot from a helicopter from outside of Las Vegas with a forced perspective that tricks our eyes into thinking that something is out of kilter. the image below by the same artist uses this technique on downtown Las Vegas.

Other works take us to real places that have been removed from their context to produce striking images. The photo below is of the Formula 1 racetrack in Bahrain's desert shot from directly above.

The sculpture below seems to be a motorcycle rider gently sleeping on the floor of the gallery.

But a closer inspection reveals that he is actually made of hundreds of photographs cut into pieces and spliced together.

Some images evoke thoughts of Hollywood movies.

Others make us feel that something odd is happening.

All of theimages are thought provoking and make us see how easy it is in our digital age to manipulate a scene in a way that changes our view. The exhibition runs through January 17th. More images can be found at the gallery's website here ( or, if you read Italian here).

Tags: art, photography

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Comment by Alexandra Korey on May 25, 2010 at 6:12am: The strozzina (this gallery space) has just come out with another exhibit that deals with some similar questions of contemporary society and technology - it's called "As Soon as Possible". I think you'll like it, too.
As usual my write- up is on the official blog for the arts in tuscany: http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/tuscanyarts/palazzo-strozzi-as-soon-as-possible/

Comment by Alexandra Korey on December 14, 2009 at 10:32am: sei molto welcome ;-)

Comment by Mark Huckabee on December 14, 2009 at 10:25am: Terrific write-up Alexandra! Anyone interested in this exhibit should do themselves a favor and read your page. I learned several new things about it! Thanks!

Comment by Alexandra Korey on December 14, 2009 at 8:57am: This is indeed the coolest contemporary art exhibit that i have been to in... a long time? my whole life? I"m not kidding, I could not be more enthusiastic. Mark's review and photos are great; I have written a bit more analysis that you might enjoy reading: http://ow.ly/LPaJ

Comment by Eugene on December 4, 2009 at 3:06pm: Cool shots! I especially like the racetrack and the motorcycle rider!

Comment by Inka Leoni on December 4, 2009 at 2:18pm: I wanna own that photo of the Bahrain desert racetrack.

Comment by alice on December 4, 2009 at 11:45am: awesome, amazing. i wish i was in italy!!!

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