Mikael Lafontan Photography

This photography is part of a series of zen like beauty of Flowers art photography. In 3 sizes. This piece: Print size: 30 x 37.5 in. Image dimensions are 22 x 30 in. Matted in 8 ply museum archival matt. Ed of 15, signed, editioned on a Certificate of Authenticity by by photographer. About this series: With great patience and respect, the photographer observes the life cycle of the flower, viewing the subject much like a portrait photographer views a person, choosing the particular instance which in his view represents the essence of the flower. We feel the piece evokes a certain poetic, quiet, Zen beauty. The photographer was a London Central Saint Martins graduate and lived in a short spell in a monastery in Japan, and now primarily lives in Japan. ----- The artist was born in the UK in 1971, and after leaving Central Saint Martin’s in London in 1992, determined to explore a deeper sense of meaning, and contemplate life, he journeyed to Japan where he lived in a Zen Buddhist monastery and lived and studied in a temple in the mountains of Yamanashi for months, during which he studied Zen Buddhism and joined the monks in their daily prayers and routines. Over time, the subject matter for this series is borne out of a respect of the inner life of living things, Nature, in this instance and a sense of “mono no aware” (the art of impermanence). His artist vision has drawn influences from his Western artistic culture, Japanese classical aesthetics, and the 1933 classical text, “In Praise of Shadows” by Japanese literary titan, Junichiro Tanizaki (1886–1965). Tanizaki, as translated by scholars, examines the singular standards of Japanese aesthetics and their stark contrast with the value systems of the industrialized West. He writes: “We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates… Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.” “Shadows” presumably refers to the subtle interplay between light and darkness, not a stark dualism between black and white. Hence, the quiet beauty expressed in shadows of light and darkness as a living flower moves through the passage of life. The art of impermanence refers to a “pathos” (aware) of “things” (mono), deriving from their transience. The flower is a perfect metaphor for the expression of impermanence and beauty. Each flower has its own distinctive character and temperament, and is in constant dynamic motion. Through the passage of its life, it blossoms to its greatest peak, turning always towards the light until they eventually give up their petals. The artist documents this process through hundreds of images over time, essentially capturing the essence of the life of the subject. Both the visual aesthetic and process of his art calls to mind the transcient nature of things and reminds us to rejoice what we do have. In his gold series - Gold, in turn associated with the sacred, the divine, with supernatural powers and even immortality, has been recognized since ancient times in all the great civilizations as a noble material. Gold leaves have been used to decorate shrines, temples, statues, armor, jewelry since ancient times. At different times of the day, the light reflects off the gold differently as the day progresses, providing a visual context in which the celebration of life was captured. The artist has been recognized for his work for example, with a merit award at the Art Directors Club 87th Annual Awards N.Y. (2008). His work has been in group exhibitions as a runner up at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the Taylor Wessing London – Elle Commendation Portrait Awards, and at the Kiyosato Photo Art Museum in 1999. A successful photographer, the artist’s commercial clients include Adidas, Estee Lauder, Hugo Boss and shot celebrities for magazines / editorials featuring Sam Smith, Jeremy Renner, Gwyneth Paltrow, David Fincher, Zhang Ziyi...

"DESPERADO" Photography Print 30" x 40" inch Edition 1/5 by Viktorija Pashuta Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the artist This artwork is printed on fine...

Untitled (Nr. 0025) Photograph 36" x 44" Limited Edition of 12 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist....

Untitled (Nr. 4017) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Rowan Daly Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the artist Ben C...

Modern Art Etc curates a gorgeous piece by John-Paul Pietrus. This piece was part of a fashion photo shoot in China, in the place universally known as the mystical "Shangri-La";, and...

The Dominion of Trees (2000 - 2005) Constructed fictions about humans relationship to the natural world “Nature is never spent” - G. M. Hopkins This series of landscape-based nar...

This piece has been matted - image of flower is: 16 x 21.5 in. - matted with 8 ply museum archival matt, external dimensions: 22.5 x 28 in.- Edn of 25. 3 sizes, framing available up...

This is a color photography of a lotus flower as part of our flower / still life series. Image dimensions: 16 x 21.5 in. Edition of 25. External dimensions: 22.5 x 28 in. Matted with 8 ply museum archival matt. Signed, numbered by photographer on a certificate of authenticity. About this series: With great patience and respect, the photographer observes the life cycle of the flower, viewing the subject much like a portrait photographer views a person, choosing the particular instance which in his view represents the essence of the flower. We feel the piece evokes a certain poetic, quiet, Zen beauty. The photographer was a London Central Saint Martins graduate and lived in a short spell in a monastery in Japan, and now primarily lives in Japan. ----- The artist was born in the UK in 1971, and after leaving Central Saint Martin’s in London in 1992, determined to explore a deeper sense of meaning, and contemplate life, he journeyed to Japan where he lived in a Zen Buddhist monastery and lived and studied in a temple in the mountains of Yamanashi for months, during which he studied Zen Buddhism and joined the monks in their daily prayers and routines. Over time, the subject matter for this series is borne out of a respect of the inner life of living things, Nature, in this instance and a sense of “mono no aware” (the art of impermanence). His artist vision has drawn influences from his Western artistic culture, Japanese classical aesthetics, and the 1933 classical text, “In Praise of Shadows” by Japanese literary titan, Junichiro Tanizaki (1886–1965). Tanizaki, as translated by scholars, examines the singular standards of Japanese aesthetics and their stark contrast with the value systems of the industrialized West. He writes: “We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates… Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.” “Shadows” presumably refers to the subtle interplay between light and darkness, not a stark dualism between black and white. Hence, the quiet beauty expressed in shadows of light and darkness as a living flower moves through the passage of life. The art of impermanence refers to a “pathos” (aware) of “things” (mono), deriving from their transience. The flower is a perfect metaphor for the expression of impermanence and beauty. Each flower has its own distinctive character and temperament, and is in constant dynamic motion. Through the passage of its life, it blossoms to its greatest peak, turning always towards the light until they eventually give up their petals. The artist documents this process through hundreds of images over time, essentially capturing the essence of the life of the subject. Both the visual aesthetic and process of his art calls to mind the transcient nature of things and reminds us to rejoice what we do have. In his gold series - Gold, in turn associated with the sacred, the divine, with supernatural powers and even immortality, has been recognized since ancient times in all the great civilizations as a noble material. Gold leaves have been used to decorate shrines, temples, statues, armor, jewelry since ancient times. At different times of the day, the light reflects off the gold differently as the day progresses, providing a visual context in which the celebration of life was captured. The artist has been recognized for his work for example, with a merit award at the Art Directors Club 87th Annual Awards N.Y. (2008). His work has been in group exhibitions as a runner up at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the Taylor Wessing London – Elle Commendation Portrait Awards, and at the Kiyosato Photo Art Museum in 1999. A successful photographer, the artist’s commercial clients include Adidas, Estee Lauder, Hugo Boss and shot celebrities for magazines / editorials featuring Sam Smith, Jeremy Renner, Gwyneth Paltrow, David Fincher, Zhang Ziyi...

"Untitled 3" (Mustang) Photography 24" x 32" inch Edition 3/7 by Larsen Sotelo From the Mustang series Giclee (Archival Ink) print on 310G Platine Fibre Cotton Rag w/satin finish ...

Untitled (Nr. 0168) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Signed and numbered by the artist. Ben Cope + Rowan Daly Off the Grid Off th...

John-Paul Pietrus was born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwestern United States. He studied photography, film, and painting at the esteemed Minneapolis College of Art and De...

We love this fine art photography for its flair, carefree style and retro vibe. John-Paul Pietrus was born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwestern United States. He studied ...

Lambda digital-c print on Ilford Ilfoflex Archival Super Gloss, 2003. Signed and numbered 2/2 on verso. Artist Andrew George is based in Los Angeles. He recently premiered his late...

"Three Rivers" from the "Light Leaks" series. Lambda digital-c print on Ilford Ilfoflex Archival Super Gloss, 2003. Signed, dated, titled, and numbered 1/1 on verso. This is a unique...

Syoin KAJII (*1976, Japan) Untitled from the series of NAMI II, EEZ1-EEZ2, 2024-2025 Lambda Print with Diasec Face, Diptych (two works) Small: Sheet 63 x 168 cm (24 3/4 x 66 1/8 in.)...