Uta Barth: nowhere near

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Summary: Uta Barth's Genius of the Unconscious
Review: This book is the first of three in a series (the second, 'and of time...' recently published with the J. Paul Getty Museuem in Los Angeles). Barth's subject is the obviousness of the unconscious. By creating photographs of objects that are - for her, at least, banal - she creates a context in which one might find a more meaningful level of discourse about the subject. In these photographs of windows in her home (and their views) she produces a series that presses the viewer to reconsider the very nature of a 'portal'. That the photographs are very beautiful in themselves only furthers the impression of a dream-state. Within them one reconsiders one's own conscious reaction in light of hers, thus bridging - emotionally - a path to unconscious perception. Jan Tumlir's essay provides the context for the work in a clear, concise prose, reminding the reader of Barth's philosophical importance, as well as her artistic value. A highly recommended book by one of the most innovative artists working today.