Selected works by Grade Solomon
In the realm of contemporary photography, Grade Solomon emerges as a unique voice, one that skillfully transports viewers into a world where the ordinary is imbued with profound meaning.
His work challenges conventional perceptions, offering a new lens through which to view the mundane—a car draped in weathered plastic, a gap in a fence, or the peeling paint on a forgotten wall. Solomon's ability to transform these seemingly trivial elements into something extraordinary is nothing short of remarkable. Through his lens, road signs, power poles, and suburban rooftops coalesce into a hazy, dreamlike tableau.
There is a deliberate manipulation of light and color, where windows shimmer with an ethereal glow, the ground reflects an almost oily sheen, and walls dissolve into fluid gradients of blues and pinks. His approach to photography is more akin to the art of painting with light, where each image transcends mere documentation to evoke the emotions and memories that shape our perceptions.
His photographs serve as a poignant tribute to a world perpetually in transition, where the remnants of the past give rise to the potential for renewal. Themes of longing, solitude, and the passage of time are intricately woven into his work, creating images that resonate with the echoes of dreams and memories, softened and blurred by the passage of time.
As a Korean-American fine art photographer based in Richmond, Virginia, Solomon delves deep into the malleability of perception. His images, often drawn from the suburban and industrial backdrops of America, reveal a depth that is not immediately apparent. Rather than striving to replicate reality, Solomon seeks to construct his own vision of it. His work is an exploration of the intersection between memory and emotion, where recurring dreams, distant recollections, and profound experiences such as love and loss inform his creative process.
Photography: Grade Solomon
Text: Zuzanna Gasior