Ansen Seale: Chiasmus

On view: September 2–October 14, 2023

Illusion imposed. A truth is released.

Photography has the power to fool the eye with stunning precision. In the capture of a fleeting moment, it can also reveal a truth that might otherwise be obscured in the blur of passing time. The structure that photography (and to some extent all art) imposes on our awareness of the world is a tool that allows us to glimpse another reality. Or maybe it’s our own reality, slowed to a frame-by-frame understanding.

The photography of San Antonio, TX artist Ansen Seale examines the passage of time as opposed to suspending a single moment. With this new work, time and space are folded back upon themselves, making origami of physical reality. Seale’s work is notable for its versatility and experimentation. His cameras and software are self-made tools, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the medium.

Seale visited Magdalena in the summer of 2022 to familiarize himself with the area and to gather photos from which to make this new body of work. “Chiasmus” refers to a narrative construction in which the ending mirrors the beginning and also calls to mind “chiasm,” the crossing of the optic nerves at the base of the brain.

Chiasmus is a body of work that is visually stunning and conceptually rich, inviting viewers to pause at these crossroads and experience a unique perspective on the natural beauty and quirky uniqueness found in and around Magdalena, New Mexico.