from the series My ghost

In 2001 the Gallery acquired an important daguerreotype by Adam Fuss. In acknowledgement and appreciation of this, the artist has offered the Photography Collection two related works. The series 'My ghost' encompasses daguerreotypes, photograms, photogravure, text, gelatin silver and platinum prints. The images include smoke, children's christening dresses, a dead swan, the human body, butterflies. Fuss has said that his '...intention is to reference his own past...'. The dreamy narrative that unfolds in this series is one of loss, longing, and the ghostly nature of memory as it is reflected photographically.

The two works offered are important parts of the series 'My ghost'. The photogravure of a child's christening dress and the unique photogram of smoke elaborate on the nature of evanescence. Both have been made through direct impressions on photographic paper yet the photographic technique (to fix light) is used here to illuminate intangibles and to encourage a meditation on the nature of life and its passing.