Magical Surfaces: The Uncanny in Contemporary Photography at Parasol Unit

The Parasol Unit in London showcases 'Magical Surfaces: The Uncanny in Contemporary Photography', a collective exhibition delving into the uncanny within photographic art. Featuring works from seven contemporary artists—Sonja Braas, David Claerbout, Elger Esser, Julie Monaco, Jörg Sasse, Stephen Shore, and Joel Sternfeld—this display spans the last forty years. The title references Czech philosopher Vilém Flusser's notion of the photographic image as a 'magical surface'. The exhibition intertwines themes of Romanticism and Freudian psychoanalysis, with Friedrich Schelling coining the term 'uncanny' (das Unheimliche) in 1835. Shore and Sternfeld's pieces reflect Freudian ideas, while Esser, Braas, Monaco, and Sasse manipulate images to blur boundaries. Claerbout's installations, 'Wreck (suite)' (2013-16) and 'KING' (2015-16), blend analog and digital elements. Curated by Ziba Ardalan, the exhibition is open until June 19, 2016.