Exhibition Review: Franco Fontana: Polaroids
© Franco Fontana
Written by Grace Russell
“The Polaroid: a magic trick, a mirage that would take form before your very eyes, mesmerizing and developing in a few minutes. A moment captured with the joy and satisfaction brought about by the thought of seeing the result immediately, a childlike kind of joy.” – Franco Fontana
Evoking a sense of nostalgia, Franco Fontana’s Polaroids exhibition at the Atlas Gallery in London showcases the intricate simplicity of immediate prints. Commonly lauded for his abstract, colorful landscapes, the euphoria throughout the images is undeniable.
© Franco Fontana
The Polaroids collection includes more than 170 unique images, ranging from urban street life to free-spirited body shots. Each photograph exudes a feeling of a life well-documented. Fontana has worked on this series alongside other projects since the 1980s, and his attention to sentimentality is characterized by his choice of equipment. Using a Polaroid, as opposed to his well-loved 35mm camera, gives the viewer an intimate look into the unfiltered emotions caught through the lens.
© Franco Fontana
Fontana focuses on three major themes in these images: land, urbanity and body. The themes interweave and reappear throughout the series, marked by a bold palette and a dash of humor and grace. Fontana gives an inside look into his travels around the world with street views of New York City and Taipei, while also showcasing the importance of home with beautiful images of the Italian countryside.
The Polaroids series, along with its counterpart Language of Colour, can be viewed at the Atlas Gallery in London through Sept. 4. Select images are also viewable online at the gallery’s website. (The Atlas Gallery is having a Summer Closure from Aug. 9 through Aug. 22.)
© Franco Fontana
