Lonsdale Gallery is pleased to present Surface Tension II, a solo exhibition of new photographs by Joan Kaufman.

Kaufman presents two bodies of work that continue her examination of human presence in relation to the natural world.

In Roots and Radicles, created from images taken during a recent trip to South Africa, Kaufman creates fictional, yet familiar environments through her visual exploration of trees and root systems. ‘Radicle’, refers to a plant embryo that develops into the primary root. It also refers to a root like cluster of nerves or veins. Kaufman pairs these to create conceptual connections between developments in nature and the body to consider the similarities of our physical and psychological relationship with the natural world and the resulting effect produces unnaturally vivid colours that depict an enigmatic subterranean world of complex root systems.

In Night Procession, the artist expands her visual exploration of the root and tree imagery, developed in Root and Radicles. Here, Kaufman introduces figurative elements into her compositions. Kaufman’s artistic exploration of the anthropocene – our current geologic era marked by the impact of human activity on the earth – turns the mirror outward, to reflect society’s complex relationship to the environment.

Joan Kaufman is a multi-disciplinary Canadian artist whose practice is based in sculpture, photography, video and sound composition. Kaufman is the recipient of Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Manitoba Arts Council grants. Showing internationally and abroad, Kaufman’s work can be found in both public and private collections across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Germany. Joan Kaufman is represented by Lonsdale Gallery in Toronto.