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Press Release Checklist Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao Habitat 7 February 16 - March 25, 2006 Jeff Liao is a recent MFA graduate from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Recently the winner of the New York Times Magazine 2nd Annual "Capture the Times" photography contest, his first fully realized body of work, titled Habitat 7, is a compelling series of images gravitating about the IRT 7 Train in Queens, New York. Liao's inspiration for this project is tied to the rise of early human civilizations in river valleys. The 7 Train, which connects the borough of Queens to Times Square in Manhattan, has seen a similar pattern of human settlement along its path ever since it was first constructed in the early 1900s. Just as early civilizations depended on rivers for food and fertile land, so the train allowed an improved quality of life for twentieth century immigrants, enabling people to form their own distinct communities on the outskirts of the city. Having lived in the shadow of the 7 train for many years, Liao continues to be fascinated with the diverse complexity of the communities that lie therein. As he says: "In my imagery, you will see 7 trains relentlessly rumble through different communities, and along its tracks vibrant details of these thriving communities that depend on the very existence of the train." In order to acheive his vision, Liao relies on a background in documentary photography, and draws influence from photographers such as Bernd and Hilla Becher and Andreas Gursky. However, Liao's work moves well beyond the sphere of traditional documentation. Using a large format 8 x 10 negative, he takes several pictures of the same location over the course of a day and uses digital technology to combine elements captured in the various exposures into images that are at once sweeping in scope, and packed with minute details. This method allows him something of the discretion of a painter in composing his pictures, and allows an individual image to span several hours of time. At the root of Liao's work lies an intensely humanist impulse: "The main elements that comprise the image are the physical details of the neighborhoods and human activities that exist within....I'm always interested in observing how these people both uphold their ethnic traditions and pursue the typical American Dream." The Queens Musuem of Art will also present an exhibition of this work from March 12 through July 9. JEFF CHIEN-HSING LIAO HABITAT 7 February 16 - March 25, 2006 ENTRANCE: 42nd Road Long Island City, 2005 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 20 x 48 inches edition of 12  MAIN GALLERY EAST WALL: PS 1, Long Island City, 2004 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 20 x 60 inches edition of 12  NORTH WALL: 5 Points Long Island City, 2004 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 40 x 96 inches edition of 6  Fruit Vendor, Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, 2004 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 20 x 48 inches edition of 12  Roosevelt Avenue, 2005 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 20 x 48 inches edition of 12  WEST WALL: LIRR, Hunters Point, 2004 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 40 x 96 inches edition of 6  SOUTH WALL: Iron Triangle Flushing, 2004 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 20 x 48 inches edition of 12  69th Street Woodside, 2004 pigment ink print mounted on sintra, luster laminate 20 x 48 inches edition of 12  top For additional information contact the gallery back |
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