Donna Bassin @ Newport Art Museum

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Donna Bassin @ Newport Art Museum

January 17th, 2025 by fstop

Environmental Melancholia.Precarious Places.71

Donna Bassin: Portraits of the Precarious Earth
January 29, 2025, through May 5, 2025

Opening reception is on January 29 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM

“Based on the series, Environmental Melancholia, Donna Bassin’s photo-based landscapes respond to the environmental crisis and its psychological impact. These striking images reveal Earth’s vulnerability and the profound losses of land, animal, and plant life.

At first glance, Bassin’s photographs draw inspiration from the rich histories of landscape painting, appearing idyllic. However, a closer examination disrupts this serene facade, unsettling perceptions of a natural world that remains unchanged. Each piece visually transforms traditional topographies, prompting viewers to question their understanding of what they see.

The constructed landscapes consist of two layered images from different locations, physically combined to create connections through color relationships or compositional elements. These images are affixed using photo corners, Japanese Washi mending tape, or embroidery thread, while each site’s longitude and latitude are noted, erasing geopolitical borders and creating a global narrative. This approach underscores our collective responsibility for the Earth.”

Newport Art Museum
Newport, Rhode Island

Location: Newport Type: Exhibition

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