Flow Photographic Gallery is presenting the inaugural exhibition of Deanna Dikeman's breakthrough photographic series, marking a significant milestone in contemporary photography. The exhibition showcases Dikeman's deeply personal and critically acclaimed work "Leaving and Waving," which has been published by the European photographic publishing house Chose Commune and has become one of the most important and best-selling photography books in recent years.
The remarkable body of work spans an extraordinary 27-year period during which Dikeman consistently photographed her parents each time she visited and departed from their home. What began as a simple ritual evolved into one of the most powerful documentary photography projects of our time. While the original published book contains 66 carefully selected images from this extended period, Flow Photographic Gallery is taking an unprecedented approach by exhibiting one photograph from every single one of Dikeman's 93 visits to her parents' home, located in the heart of the American Midwest.
This comprehensive presentation offers viewers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the complete evolution of this intimate family narrative. Dikeman's photographic series stands as a formidable achievement that rivals any durational series of family photographs ever created. The work represents a body of art characterized by searing beauty and unwavering emotional intensity that captures the complex dynamics of family relationships over time.
As viewers progress through the chronological sequence of images, they witness the passage of years and observe how the fundamental bond between parents and child becomes increasingly charged with desperation and tenderness. The photographs document not just the physical changes that occur over nearly three decades, but also the evolving emotional landscape of family connections as time inevitably marches forward.
Critics and photography enthusiasts have drawn comparisons to some of the most significant long-term photographic projects in art history. Not since Nicholas Nixon's renowned series of portraits documenting the Brown Sisters over several decades has a single body of photographs provided such an articulate and moving commentary on the fundamental nature of time, the human body, and matters of the heart.
The exhibition provides an immersive experience that allows visitors to contemplate themes of mortality, love, separation, and the bittersweet nature of family relationships. Each photograph serves as both a moment frozen in time and a chapter in an ongoing story of human connection and inevitable loss.
For those seeking to delve deeper into Dikeman's work and artistic process, an accompanying exhibition catalogue is available for purchase through the Flow Photographic Gallery website, offering additional insights and context for this extraordinary photographic achievement.
The exhibition "Deanna Dikeman: Leaving and Waving" will be on display until August 18, 2024, at Flow Photographic Gallery, located at 1010 Harrow Road, London NW10 5NS, United Kingdom. Additional information about the exhibition and the artist's work can be found at www.flowphotographic.gallery and flowphotographic.gallery.
Due to the intimate nature of the gallery space and to ensure an optimal viewing experience, the exhibition is open by appointment only. Interested visitors can schedule their visit by contacting alex@flowphotographic.com or by calling 020 7993 6596 to arrange their viewing appointment.
