David Reinfeld: Composite Realities
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES 2, 2023, David Reinfeld
Written and Photo Edited by Joe Cuccio
David Reinfeld’s “Composite Realities'' is an astounding depiction of the constant chaos, change, and presence that New York City holds within the world today. Reinfeld’s imagery embraces the architecture and surrounding environments, holding onto his admiration for abstractionism. In this exhibition, we see a wide scope of how Reinfeld engages with the streets, buildings, and cityscapes to evoke such a sense of what it means to live in a capricious city.
“Composite Realities” is on view at Foto Relevance in Houston, Texas, and the show will continue until December 22nd. The space has been a premier destination for contemporary photography since 2016, and this show is no different. Through his work, Reinfeld makes a strong commentary on what it means to exist in a contemporary urban environment whilst embracing composites that are not such simple documentation of the surrounding world. His imagery compliments the gallery’s constant desire to present American artists who are pushing the boundaries of photography.
David Reinfeld: Composite Realities Installation, Photo Credit Zan Zeller
In this exhibition, there are three different bodies of work on display falling under the umbrella of Reinfeld’s composited realities. Reliance, Confines, and Schrödinger’s Cat. Viewing these series combined into one show allows onlookers to gain insight into how Reinfeld can express his relationship to the rapidly altering built environment found in the city that never sleeps.
One of the most intriguing images from the show is “Manifest Wind 1,” where we see an abstraction that has presented itself to the artist. The power of the wind is on full display as a large piece of plastic is suspended above the pavement gracefully dancing in the air. His attention to leading lines builds a complete frame from edge to edge, and the way these objects interact with light demands the attention of the observer. Reinfeld compresses space in this image and creates the precise moment where folds of the materials become present, leaving the viewer to contemplate if this image is found or altered in post-production. In conjunction with the other photographs present, those who interact with this piece begin to reflect on what it means to construct an abstraction within a photograph. Can it be an item one encounters, or can it be created through post-processing? Reinfeld shows us that within his work can use both and blur the lines between the two.
Manifest Wind 1, 2013, David Reinfeld
The vague line between what is a found composite and what is created in the digital world appears in the image “Reliance 1.” In this image, the steel beams that hold up the magnificent bridges of New York City cross paths over and over again. There is a chaotic energy that is present as Reinfeld gazes upon the infrastructure. The lines leading all about the image provide the viewer with hundreds of ways to cross the frame while holding onto a strong sense of form and uplifting tumultuous feeling one can get in NYC. It is unclear whether Reinfeld added layers of steel to enhance a sense of abstract urban life. Among the ambiguity, he allows us to fall back onto his intention of creating these constructions by any means necessary, in service of evoking a sense of what it means to live in this built environment.
Reliance 1, 2007, David Reinfeld
David Reinfeld’s show provides viewers a space to understand his formative influences of engaging with the streets of New York City. This, along with his attention to the abstract, has assisted in guiding him through the chaos. He provides us insight into what it means to exist in one of the world’s most fast-paced places through the creation of his composited realities.
Confines 11, 2017, David Reinfeld
