horizon
A timely commentary on “borders”, “boundaries”, and “separation”, Sparky Campanella’s horizon series
combines the natural world and human constructs with a geometric rigor that balances these two fundamentals. Each image is equally bifurcated into an upper and lower register, often with an expanse
of organic nature on top and a barrier of man-made geometry below. The equal split in each image
creates a fraternal horizon line, bringing the horizon’s calming power right to the viewer. Using a largeformat 4x5 film camera, Campanella is able to control the plane of focus in each image, allowing both
foreground and background to be equally sharp. The resultant flattening of the photograph abstracts
the scene away from a pre-conceived reality and towards his emotive intent. Campanella consistently
succeeds in capturing brief moments of quiet revelation in his surrounding environment, turning banal
urban landscapes into an iconic vocabulary of juxtapositions. Every photograph in horizon comes with
an emotional impact that you feel in your gut. Yet there is a hint of logic in how both halves simultaneously oppose and complement one other, a realization that keeps you grounded and an attack of mild
vertigo at bay