50 West Street – New York, New York
February 01, 2021 – December 30, 2023
Created during Arja Hop and Peter Svenson’s month-long residency at the Van Gogh Huis AIR in Zundert, By Photosynthesis is a study of connections and constants between the location and the time in the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Hop and Svenson gathered two samples of leaves from twelve of the monumental trees in the churchyard where Van Gogh’s father was pastor, one sample taken two weeks before the longest day and one two weeks after. The results show how the trees’ chemistry changes as they prepare for the oncoming winter months. Using the colors extracted from the leaves, By Photosynthesis presents two groups of twelve photographic prints in the Observation Deck of 50 West, exploring the physicality, beauty and the response nature provokes in human emotions.
