Henry Bateman

2004 Exhibition Review

ALTERED STATES
Digital Art by HENRY BATEMAN
21st November - 24th December 2004 @ THE OLD BAKERY ON EIGHTH GALLERY
Reviewed by Judith McGrath

In the late 19th century, J.M.W. Turner believed that photography would be the death of 'Art'. In the mid 20th century David Hockney considered photography an unacceptable form of image making. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, photography is finely gaining credibility as a fine art form. Meanwhile, as the debate about art vs photography continues, Henry Bateman ignores the rhetoric and goes about doing what he does best; turning simple subjects into interesting images by digitally manipulating his photographs.

Good visual art, no matter the medium, is about seeing and converting what we see into images that stimulate the eye and the mind. The images in this exhibition do just that. Bateman employs three themes, floral subjects, urban scenes, and portraits, each having it's own appeal. In the first grouping, trees and flowers appear to have been pollinated by electric bees as neon floribunda vibrates beautifully within the frame. As much as we admire the flutter of coloured leaves and branches, it's the portrait-like treatment of the Frangipani flower that demonstrates the 'wow' factor to the max.

Views of building sites around this town and the hustle and bustle of distant cities provide a new kind of visual impact after having gone through Bateman's camera and computer. Line and colour are manipulated and enhanced to add interest and excitement to the everyday environment. The collection of individual images in Night & Day makes an interesting and pulsating composition that could be any metropolis anywhere. Meanwhile Jeepney and Street Vendors offer two different moods that can only be found in an Asian city.

Bateman's Female Study series is a collection of gentle portraits that delineate only the sitter's head and hands. However his selection of detail and use of colour gives the viewer sufficient clues to each sitter's personality. Then there is Moon Dance, a rhythmic collection of full-body stills that capture the moves of a young man (break?) dancing.

Bateman has a keen eye for collecting aspects of everyday life, and a keen sense of design for digitally manipulating his pictures. He creates visual images that engage the viewer, and that's what Art is all about.