In his "Concrete Abstract" series, Israeli photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shaikremer.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Shai Kremer</a> overlays multiple photographs that he took of the World Trade Center site from 2011-2013. Each final work includes hundreds of digital images or pieces of images.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
In his "Concrete Abstract" series, Israeli photographer Shai Kremer overlays multiple photographs that he took of the World Trade Center site from 2011-2013. Each final work includes hundreds of digital images or pieces of images.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
The series is a remembrance of tragedy and a progression toward healing, Kremer said. "I moved to New York right after the 9/11 events," he said. "Coming from a country used to dealing with terrorist attacks, I was interested in seeing how New York reacted."
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
The series is a remembrance of tragedy and a progression toward healing, Kremer said. "I moved to New York right after the 9/11 events," he said. "Coming from a country used to dealing with terrorist attacks, I was interested in seeing how New York reacted."
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
Using the highest large-format digital technology available, Kremer said his approach was that of a painter guided by composition.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
Using the highest large-format digital technology available, Kremer said his approach was that of a painter guided by composition.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"This image contains more than 100 layers -- after that number, I stop counting -- creating scenarios that mix different time fragments," Kremer said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"This image contains more than 100 layers -- after that number, I stop counting -- creating scenarios that mix different time fragments," Kremer said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"Every image starts from an empty canvas," Kremer explained. "In this case, the inspiration of the image comes from a picture I took on the fourth floor of Tower No. 4. ... It has unique curvy feminine shapes and carries the whole story of the site."
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"Every image starts from an empty canvas," Kremer explained. "In this case, the inspiration of the image comes from a picture I took on the fourth floor of Tower No. 4. ... It has unique curvy feminine shapes and carries the whole story of the site."
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
Images from the series will be on display at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saulgallery.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">Julie Saul Gallery</a> through October 25, as well as at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcny.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Museum of the City of New York</a>, the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bam.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Brooklyn Academy of Music</a> and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bronxmuseum.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Bronx Museum of the Arts.</a>
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
Images from the series will be on display at Julie Saul Gallery through October 25, as well as at the Museum of the City of New York, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and The Bronx Museum of the Arts.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
This image, based on an aerial photograph taken from an airplane on September 23, 2001, is close to the "core substance" -- the World Trade Center site and what it represents, Kremer said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
This image, based on an aerial photograph taken from an airplane on September 23, 2001, is close to the "core substance" -- the World Trade Center site and what it represents, Kremer said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"I believe strongly in the fact that beauty is a powerful conveyor of difficult ideas," Kremer said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"I believe strongly in the fact that beauty is a powerful conveyor of difficult ideas," Kremer said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"Some viewers will point out religious references," he said, "but that's their interpretation, not my intention."
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"Some viewers will point out religious references," he said, "but that's their interpretation, not my intention."
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"This one is truly about the reconstruction and is a pure documentation of the whole site during two years: 16 acres of massive formation. More than anything, it carries the notion of moving forward," he said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"This one is truly about the reconstruction and is a pure documentation of the whole site during two years: 16 acres of massive formation. More than anything, it carries the notion of moving forward," he said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
This abstract is inspired by etchings from 18th-century Italian artist Piranesi. "It translates my feeling of walking inside all the undergrounds throughout the site," Kremer said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
This abstract is inspired by etchings from 18th-century Italian artist Piranesi. "It translates my feeling of walking inside all the undergrounds throughout the site," Kremer said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"I call this image 'dense-city' -- more of a personal take on urban landscape," he said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"I call this image 'dense-city' -- more of a personal take on urban landscape," he said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"When I am working on site, my brain is in shooting mode, so I am carried by that," Kremer said. "It's only once I am back in the studio with my images to organize and build that I can reflect more."
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"When I am working on site, my brain is in shooting mode, so I am carried by that," Kremer said. "It's only once I am back in the studio with my images to organize and build that I can reflect more."
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"Each image is a project in itself," he said. "For each I was mostly guided -- much like a painter -- by the composition, colors, axes of symmetries and asymmetries."
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"Each image is a project in itself," he said. "For each I was mostly guided -- much like a painter -- by the composition, colors, axes of symmetries and asymmetries."
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
"When looking at the image again from a different perspective, the experience becomes very different," Kremer said. "I personally like to first study the concrete details, then observe the abstract qualities."
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
"When looking at the image again from a different perspective, the experience becomes very different," Kremer said. "I personally like to first study the concrete details, then observe the abstract qualities."
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
Kremer grew up in Israel, which he said has a history of dealing with trauma. "I found that beauty also has healing powers," he said.
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
Kremer grew up in Israel, which he said has a history of dealing with trauma. "I found that beauty also has healing powers," he said.
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery
The kaleidoscopic effects of Kremer's photo collage suggests a larger universal question: Despite the abundance of images available to us, have we found meaning in the emotional rubble left behind?
An abstract look at the World Trade Center —
The kaleidoscopic effects of Kremer's photo collage suggests a larger universal question: Despite the abundance of images available to us, have we found meaning in the emotional rubble left behind?
Shai Kremer/Julie Saul Gallery