FOREST, 2002
Lambda-Print, 120 x 180 cm
A southern forest landscape stretches out: dry, sparse scrub lines the path, which is overgrown in places. Not a breath of wind stirs; the shimmering heat seems to penetrate even the shadows, and the glaring light makes the forest appear to burn away in places; everything is static. Istvan Balogh’s photographs depict places that might invite one to linger during a walk, moments when the gaze briefly wanders into the distance, spotting the continuation of the forest or perceiving the density of the undergrowth. Here a clearing opens up; there, slender, tall trees take the place of the low shrubbery. A path vanishes into nowhere, eludes the gaze, making walking it an adventure. Yet right now, movement is frozen. The silence becomes all too clear; all living things have withdrawn, nature is left to itself. Here there is nothing spectacular to see.
"A Glimpse of the Uncanny" (Extract)
Marianne Burki
