Africa

Where to Work Africa

Once Upon A Time, a photo exhibition recently held at the Alan Klotz Gallery in New York City by Spanish photographer José Ramón Bas, is a storyteller’s device. In the case of J.R. Bas, the story is told with images rather than with words, although words frequently appear as part of the images, hearkening back to the substantive reality of the viewer’s world, on a latitude and longitude that is identifiable and actually reachable. All the rest of it – the words, the cartoon clouds, the horizons in the air and the guys drawn on the beach and the mountains and the trees and the boats – all of this is the invention of the storyteller, J.R. Bas.

Once Upon A Time

Bas’ playfulness is everywhere in these images: drawn-in landscape elements (clouds, horizons, boats) are added where they are needed to properly expand your imagination. Cartoonish simulacra show up to keep the photographed characters company, or serve as their shadows or alter egos. The pictures themselves live on pages embellished with mountains and trees, and text drawn in pencil and crayon.

Photos by José Ramón Bas/ Courtesy of the Alan Klotz Gallery. Salisa series (2011)

01 Marina. I love growing up in wisdom and honesty 02 Exauicea. I would like to be president 03 Dirck. I love soccer

Once Upon A Time