"The Dailies" Exhibition by Thomas Demand

At the Sprüth Magers Gallery in London I recently saw the work of artist Thomas Demand. Thomas Demand is often known for making photographs of three-dimensional models that look like real images of rooms and other spaces. However for the exhibition the work that was displayed was different from his normal style. It is a collection of photographs that were studies everyday and mundane objects. Things you would often pass thinking nothing of it or in some case looking at it only as rubbish. Yet Thomas Demand almost forces the viewer to notice these day-to-day object that often go unnoticed and realise the beautiful in them.

In The Dailies, Demand for the first time experimented using an out of date process of printing called dye transfer, which involves fixing dyes with gelatin to ordinary paper. Very similar to technicolour, fixing each primary colour to the print paper one at a time. Demand chose to use this print process because its over saturated colour, however not garish effect. I found the style of print beautiful, it created an image depth not normally seen now a days, as well as an almost pop-art feel. While talking to one of the gallery staff, she informed me that this style of print process has actually stopped in production, meaning that no more of the gelatin fixing dyes are being made anymore. Meaning that is possible that Thomas Demand could have used up the last of the remaining supplies and these are the last photographs to ever be made in this process. Which I find weirdly upsetting as it make such rich and bold prints.