Seen: Eye of the Vortex
Who: ERIC / website
Where: Place M, Shinjuku
It’s been Eric Week at Place M / Gallery M2 in Shinjuku- While the second floor gallery serves as the first public venue for his GOOD LUCK HONG KONG series, the third floor, Place M, is where to catch a second showing of his previously exhibited India work, Eye of the Vortex.
I mentioned here earlier that Eric and his Leica and his flash spent some time in India- the entire series can be seen on his website here, or handsomely printed as a photography book by Akaaka, which can be purchased here.
The pictures on the walls were every bit as exciting as I remembered them from September when they were pinned to the walls of Guardian Garden in Ginza. He is either unaware of the traditional Western approaches to photographing India, or simply doesn’t care. He keeps true to himself but not in a way that mocks those within range of his lens. Despite working on the streets with a flash Eric isn’t one of those brutally hardcore street photographers out to beat people down photographically- his subjects still retain their concerns and humanity. Even if a picture makes you grin it’s not at the expense of the subject but a joyous appreciation for the moment. I guess the illumination he employs works to enlighten everyone who is part of it.
On site at Place M you’ll find three of his four books available for sale. They’re all fun- GOOD LUCK CHINA is great. Look At this People is a snappy book and an entertaining video on Youtube with a song that makes me want to go out and take pictures as soon as I hear it. Eye of the Vortex made my Favorite Photobooks of 2014 list.