by Luke Foley-Martin

Given it is their primary source of light, photographers almost always consider the sun. Yet they seldom directly photograph it as a subject.

Sungazing is sometimes enacted as part of spiritual or religious practices, or as an alternative therapy, most often near dawn or dusk. However, it is considered extremely dangerous, and impossible to look at the sun for any length of time without damaging one’s vision or going blind.

Luke Foley-Martin’s exhibition combines real photographs of the sun with hand-made abstract simulations of celestial bodies created in the darkroom. Influenced by heliography and selected works by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Nicolai Howalt and Hiroshi Yamazaki, in ‘Staring into the Sun’ Foley-Martin risks his own eyesight to explore spaces between the real and imagined, vision and blindness.

Luke Foley-Martin's first Solo Exhibition 'Staring Into The Sun' was held from 28th April - 19th May 2023, at our Gallery in Kingsland, and was one of the 2023 early bird highlights of the Auckland Festival of Photography.

https://lukefoleymartin.com/ I @lukefoleymartin