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Up, Down, Near and Far at Brookgreen Gardens features a series of photo-based images by Kirsten Hoving presented in unconventional ways. The “Down” and “Near” portions of the exhibition focus on what we see when we look closely at what is at ground level. These images of flowers and vegetation have been printed on silk organza, which is then mounted over paper prints in a shadowbox format to create nearly abstract, nearly three-dimensional mirages. Glimpsed details of shapes combine with washes of color to evoke dreamy feelings of being immersed in a natural world that is more felt than seen. The “Up” and “Far” portion of the exhibition emphasizes distant cloudscapes and forest scenes. Large photo-based collages of clouds and free-flowing kinetic photographs on silk, featuring abstracted reflections of trees in moving water, encourage us to consider additional ways of thinking about our place in nature.
The exhibition Up, Down, Near and Far will be on view from June 14 through August 10, 2025, spanning both the Ron Daise Auditorium and the Lowcountry Gallery at Brookgreen Gardens.
About the Artist:
Kirsten Hoving is a photographer and multimedia artist from Charleston, SC, whose art balances on the edge between the recognizable and imagery that is just beyond our grasp. She frequently combines photographs with unusual processes, materials, and presentations to evoke dream states or barely discernable imagery. Using unexpected viewpoints, three-dimensional elements, and kinetic effects, she expands photography’s decisive moments into visionary states of wonder. Over the last fifteen years, Hoving has exhibited her work in galleries around the world and has published several books featuring her work, including Svala’s Saga, an environmental fairytale created in collaboration with photographer Emma Powell. With a PhD in art history from Columbia University, Hoving had a distinguished career as a professor and scholar of modern art, publishing books and articles on various topics, including Surrealist photography and the assemblages of Joseph Cornell. Those interests heavily influence her creative practice.