Robert Canali

N.1
SOMEWHERE
I HAVE NEVER
TRAVELLED
(2014–Current)

With the advent of digital photographic technology, analog processing has been rejected, its tools and practitioners are slowly forgotten. Somewhere I Have Never Travelled continues to explore the fleeting beauty in what progress leaves behind. This work features large-scale exposures, made up of tiled sheets of expired photo paper. These mosaics of paper capture the final moments of discarded flowers from the San Francisco Flower Mart (soon to be ‘upgraded’ and dwarfed by condominiums). The fragile balance between permanence and obsolescence is pushed further by displaying exposed photo paper in light-sealed bags. If the seal is maintained, the moment endures, but remains unknown. Similarly, the tools used to generate and render analog photographs are treated as art forms themselves, tenderly restored in remembrance of a declining practice.

Format: Photography, Sculpture, Mixed Media

“He liked the fragility of those moments suspended in time.
Those memories whose only function had been to leave behind
nothing but memories.”

Chris Marker, Sans Soleil, 1983

Lost Exposures 9 x 3 x 11 in
Kodak Light Proof Bag, 22.9 x 7.6 x 27.9 cm
Exposed Photo Paper,
Acrylic Case

Photography in the Time 2014
of Digital Disenchantment
(installation view)

Enlarger 16 x 24 x 35 in
1960 Meopta Opemus IIa 40.6 x 61 x 89 cm
Chrome, Marble,
Repurposed Enlarger

(process detail)

Flora Study N.11 8 x 10 in
(your slightest look 20.3 x 25.4 cm
easily will unclose me)
Photogram, Expired Photo
Paper, Exhausted
Darkroom Chemicals,
Dried Flower (remnant from
exposure)

(process detail)

Flora Study N.4 48 x 80 in
121.9 x 203.2 cm

Partially Fixed Photograms, Twelve Sheets of Expired
Ilford Black and White Fiber Paper, Processed with
Exhausted Ilford Fixer (still sensitive,) Refuse Flowers
from the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.5 48 x 80 in
121.9 x 203.2 cm

Partially Fixed Photograms, Twelve Sheets of Expired
Ilford Black and White Fiber Paper, Processed with
Exhausted Ilford Fixer (still sensitive,) Refuse Flowers
from the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.1 48 x 90 in
121.9 x 228.6 cm

Partially Fixed Photograms, 54 Sheets of Expired
Agfa Black and White RC Paper, Processed with
Exhausted Kodak Fixer (still sensitive,) Refuse Flowers
from the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.6 48 x 90 in
121.9 x 228.6 cm

Partially Fixed Photograms, 54 Sheets of Expired
Kodak Black and White RC Paper, Processed with
Exhausted Kodak Fixer (still sensitive,) Refuse Flowers
from the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.2 80 x 96 in
203.3 x 243.8 cm

Partially Fixed Photograms, 96 Sheets of Expired
Ilford Black and White Fiber Paper, Processed with
Exhausted Ilford Fixer (still sensitive,) Refuse Flowers
from the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.3 80 x 96 in
203.3 x 243.8 cm

Partially Fixed Photograms, 24 Sheets of Expired
Ilford Black and White Fiber Paper, Processed with
Exhausted Ilford Fixer (still sensitive,) Refuse Flowers
from the San Francisco Flower Mart

Lost Exposures (2006)
Exposed Agfa Black and White
Fiber Paper, Agfa Light
Proof Black Bag, Custom
Acrylic Case

Installation Views

N.1
SOMEWHERE
I HAVE NEVER
TRAVELLED
(2014–Current)

Format: Photography, Sculpture, Mixed Media

“He liked the fragility of those moments suspended in time. Those memories whose only function had been to leave behind nothing but memories.”

Chris Marker, Sans Soleil, 1983

Lost Exposures
9 x 3 x 11 in
22.9 x 7.6 x 27.9 cm
Kodak Light Proof Bag,
Exposed Photo Paper,
Acrylic Case

Photography in the Time of Digital Disenchantment
2014
(installation view)

Enlarger
16 x 24 x 35 in
40.6 x 61 x 89 cm
1960 Meopta Opemus IIa Chrome,
Marble, Repurposed Enlarger

(process detail)

Flora Study N.11
(your slightest look easily will unclose me)
8 x 10 in
20.3 x 25.4 cm
Photogram, Expired Photo Paper,
Exhausted Darkroom Chemicals,
Dried Flower (remnant from exposure)

Flora Study N.4, 2017
48 x 80 in
121.9 x 203.2 cm
Partially Fixed Photograms, Twelve Sheets of Expired Ilford
Black and White Fiber Paper, Processed with Exhausted Ilford Fixer
(still sensitive), Refuse Flowers From the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.5, 2017
48 x 80 in
121.9 x 203.2 cm
Partially Fixed Photograms, Twelve Sheets of Expired Ilford
Black and White Fiber Paper, Processed with Exhausted Ilford Fixer
(still sensitive), Refuse Flowers From the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.1, 2017
48 x 90 in
121.9 x 228.6 cm
Partially Fixed Photograms, 54 Sheets of Expired Agfa
Black and White RC Paper, Processed with Exhausted Kodak Fixer
(still sensitive), Refuse Flowers From the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.6, 2017
48 x 90 in
121.9 x 228.6 cm
Partially Fixed Photograms, 54 Sheets of Expired Agfa
Black and White RC Paper, Processed with Exhausted Kodak Fixer
(still sensitive), Refuse Flowers From the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.2, 2017
80 x 96 in
203.2 x 243.8 cm
Partially Fixed Photograms, 96 Sheets of Expired Ilford
Black and White RC Paper, Processed with Exhausted Ilford Fixer
(still sensitive), Refuse Flowers From the San Francisco Flower Mart

Flora Study N.3, 2017
80 x 96 in
203.2 x 243.8 cm
Partially Fixed Photograms, 24 Sheets of Expired Ilford
Black and White RC Paper, Processed with Exhausted Ilford Fixer
(still sensitive), Refuse Flowers From the San Francisco Flower Mart

Lost Exposures (2006), 2017
Exposed Agfa Black and White Fiber Paper,
Agfa Light Proof Black Bag, Custom Acrylic Case

Installation Views

For additional inquiries please email:
contact@robertcanali.com

@robertcanali