Seth Lower

Seth Lower

UNITS

Hardcover
23 x 18 cm
2019
Published by MACK

From the artist:

Units contains photographs taken from 1994–2017. The images depict a variety of everyday materials and situations, many seen in sets, parts, or multiples. Within such scenes, Lower seeks out a kind of integrity (or lack thereof): standards of measurement, materiality, vague questions about the boundaries of entities and experience. A sign swallowed by tree bark, a small collection of funnels, a stove for sale in the sunshine. Where does one unit end and the other begin? It is certainly possible to be part of the whole and at the same time separate, existing with a foot in both worlds, but does this say anything about the units themselves, or only the way we define them?

Graham Harman writes that such pieces are ‘terminal points, closed-off neighborhoods that retain their local identity despite the broader systems into which they are partly absorbed’.

Grab c copy of the book on the MACK books website here

On January 9th 7pm in the Los Angeles launch of Lower's new book, there will be an in-depth discussion between the artist and Graham Harman, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at SCI-Arc in LA.
Event will take place at the Book Soup (8818 Sunset Boulevard,West Hollywood, CA). For more info click here

Book review by Dana Stirling |

In a time where we are reevaluating our part within this earth, and how we act and affect the world that is given to us and the one we have constructed ourselves, In his new monograph “UNITS”, photographer Seth Lower shows us the tension between the man made and the natural and this tension is what might defines us. These tensions are shown in situations such as having a can of sliced peaches sitting in front of bushes and flowers or perhaps a tree growing within the building’s electrical wires. This humorist view of our cultural views of the world around us and how absorbed it might look once we allow ourselves to point the camera and highlight it. The humor in the work is be finding these juxtapositions that are whimsical puns in the streets or just profoundly obvious contradictions that are sadly too true yet sometimes hidden within the chaos of life.

Seth Lower. Image from ‘Units’ (MACK, 2019). Courtesy of the artist and MACK.

Seth Lower. Image from ‘Units’ (MACK, 2019). Courtesy of the artist and MACK.

Photography has a way of capturing the world in a timeless fashion all while capturing the specific time we live in. We can each look at these images and see a different “us” and interpret it in our own way within the common universal codes that are given to us. For me, these images capture the essence of what still life photography does best – allows the viewer to rethink the mundane every day, the familiar, the ordinary and see the symbolism and the hidden message within these four corners of the frame.

I think that over the year’s photographers have understood the power that photography has in creating representations within the world around us. If you would have passed a can of peaches on the street on your way to work, you probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought [unless you were a photographer yourself?]. Perhaps you would have thought of its waste or the oddness of its location but that would probably be the end of your internal conversation on the matter. However, while flipping throw a photo-book or viewing an exhibition, the context of “higher art” creates a space for us to think, imagine and most importantly critique our values and standards. These photographs capture the viewer with their vibrant colors, perfect and compelling compositions, rich tones and light all to allow an easy access visually that will engage and challenge their world views. What a power indeed. 

The book offers a verity of imagery – all different points of views and photographic approaches with a wide range of objects and people. This diversity builds a mini cosmos within the book’s pages, you feel like you are walking within these streets and meeting these people or objects yourself. As streets are usually a commotion of visuals, this book represents the scenes we are familiar with and a costumed to see yet usually never really stop and look at in depth. The familiar makes it easy for us to dive in the images until we see the unordinary within them. 

Each photograph stands alone yet together this book weaves a story of a place, culture and art. The images are both poetic and hyper realistic which create an interesting visual where you are aware of the unapologetic reality yet can also enjoy the subtle enigmatic sentimental aspects that peak through.

For me what I find most compelling about the book is the fact that I don’t always know what the photographer thought when capturing the image. With the fact that I am new to Seth’s work and to this book in particular, with not much written information to guide me toward the artists specific thoughts, I find myself questioning the reasons behind the images,  thinking why I would, as a photographer myself, have potentially stopped by these objects or people or if I would have stopped at all. I feel like these questions, for me, create an internal dialog with the book and its images that is a fun and challenging read which is sometimes hard to come by with a photo book. 

Grab a copy of the book for yourself and dive into the streets if LA in a whimsical and thoughtful way - Units (2019) by Seth Lower published by MACK.
In addition, don’t forget the check out the book singing and discussion on January 9th 7pm at Book Soup Los Angeles.