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David Stephenson: The Photographic Sublime

CAE1304

Summary Note

The archive David Stephenson: The Photographic Sublime contains prints from The New Monuments, Composite Landscapes, Light Cities projects, as well as photographs from Antarctica.

Biographical Note

David Stephenson was born in 1955, and studied at the University of Colorado and then the University of New Mexico, completing an MFA in 1982. He moved to Australia that same year to take up a position teaching photography at the University of Tasmania, where he completed a PhD in Fine Art in 2001. A fascination for “the vast” in space and time has led him to travel and photograph extensively around the world, with journeys to Europe, the Himalayas, and both the Arctic and Antarctic. His second visit to Antarctica in 1991 motivated his first exhibited work in video, which has continued to be an aspect of his practice.

Stephenson’s photographs and video have been exhibited extensively internationally, including solo exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (1993), the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (1994), the Paisley Museum and Art Gallery, Scotland (1995), the National Gallery of Victoria, (1998), the Cleveland Museum of Art (2001), and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (2001). His work is represented in many public and private collections including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A meditation on the sublime has sustained David Stephenson’s artistic practice over 30 years, which has evolved through long-term, interrelated projects of inquiry. His photographs of the sublime ceilings of European sacred architecture have been published in two monographs with Princeton Architectural Press: Visions of Heaven: The Dome in European Architecture (2005) and Heavenly Vaults: From Romanesque to Gothic in European Architecture (2009), and showcased worldwide in many exhibitions.

While traveling for these projects, Stephenson made his first photographs of cities at night, bringing together a number of his previous interests, including the idea of the sublime, environmental concerns, and the transcendental power of light. The glowing “light city” seems the perfect emblem of so much that is both good and bad in our industrialized culture: an extraordinary example of a monumental technological sublime, where awe, beauty, and human aspiration are tinged with the horror of potential environmental catastrophe, our engine of modernity seemingly running on empty.

A key aspect of Stephenson's current Light Cities project is the explosion in growth of the modern city. The visible symbols of economic aspiration such as the skyscraper have spread across the globe. Every reasonably sized city contains a downtown area of high buildings, with urban sprawl often extending for hundreds of square miles, and all those buildings glowing with electric light from sundown through to the early hours. With the vast majority of this electric power generated by coal-fired thermal power stations, it is not difficult to see that this situation has a finite timeframe, before the fuel runs out or climate change has drastic effects on the world’s ecosystems, requiring major changes to take place in the entire fabric of our modern industrialized culture. That many of these cities were founded as ports and are located at sea level, making them highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, gives further urgency to a close scrutiny of the modern city.

Stephenson has also been collaborating with Martin Walch since 2010 on the Derwent Project, which aims to create new immersive approaches to the representation of complex and remote environments. An overview of the project and samples of their multichannel video works can be viewed on their Vimeo site: vimeo.com/derwentproject.

David Stephenson lives and works in Hobart, Tasmania. He is Associate Professor of Art at the University of Tasmania, where he serves as School Research Coordinator and Head of Photography at the Tasmanian School of Art. He is Co-director of the University's Arts and Environment Research group.

Scope and Content

The archive contains the artist’s PhD dissertation, Towards a Photographic Sublime, 1982-2000. The dissertation contextualizes Stephenson’s work from the 1979-1982 work done in the American West, through his moving to and working in Tasmania, photographing in the Antarctic during the early 1990s, and finally his work picturing built and natural celestial domes done primarily in the late 1990s.

The archive consists of four photographic projects: early photographic work done in the American West and Tasmania with a large-format camera using black-and-white film titled The New Monument; black-and-white panoramas done in the American West and Tasmania titled Composite Landscapes. These first and second photographic projects were made mostly before or immediately after Stephenson moved to Tasmania in 1982 and focus on the idea of the sublime and environmental concerns.

The archive also includes Antarctic work taken during two different visits in 1991, as well as digital color images from an international series about cities at night titled Light Cities, which took place from 2005-2013.

Arrangement

The David Stephenson: The Photographic Sublime archive is arranged into eight folders organized by subject matter.

Inclusive Dates

1979-2024

Bulk Dates

1981-1991

Quantity / Extent

.75 cubic feet

Language

English

Related Archive Collections

  • CAE2305: Todd Anderson: The Oldest Ice on Earth
  • CAE2302: Patricia Suchy and Vince LiCata: Persistence of Vision: Antarctica
  • CAE2218: April Waters: Water-Ice-Sky, Antarctica
  • CAE2109: David Stephenson and Martin Walch: The Derwent River Project
  • CAE2013: Shaun O'Boyle: Polar Environments
  • CAE1903: David Arnold: Antarctic Re-Explorations
  • CAE1219 : Stuart Klipper: The Antarctic, From the Circle to the Pole
  • CAE1218: Jean de Pomereau: Antarctic Photographs
  • CAE1117: William L. Fox: Terra Antarctica
  • CAE1103: Joan Myers: Wondrous Cold, An Antarctic Journey

Related Publications

French, Blair, and Daniel Palmer. Twelve Australian Photo Artists. Annandale, NSW: Piper Press, 2009.

Kent, Rachel. In the Balance: Art for a Changing World. Sydney, NSW: Museum of Contemporary Art, 2010.

Stephenson, David, and Gred. French. Skeletons: Photographs by David Stephenson. Australia: Space + Light Editions, 2003.

Stephenson, David, and Keith Davis. Stars: Photographs by David Stephenson. Australia: Space + Light Editions, 1999.

Stephenson, David. Light Cities. Berlin: Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2024.

Stephenson, David. SublimeSpace: photographs by David Stephenson 1989 – 1998. Melbourne, VIC: National Gallery of Victoria, 1998.

Stephenson, David. Symmetries Sublime = Sublime Symmetries. Lisbonne: Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian, 2006.

Zika, Paul. Looking South. Hobart, Tasmania: Plimsoll Gallery, 2005.

Container Listing:

  • ARCH-FILE 11-1

    • Folder 1 Artist Information and Dissertation, 2001 – 2024
    • Folder 2 The New Monuments, 1979 – 1981
    • Folder 3 Trans-Alaska Pipeline, 1981
    • Folder 4 Composite Landscapes, 1982
    • Folder 5 Antarctica, Near Davis Station, 1991
    • Folder 6 Antarctica, Near Mawson Station, 1991
    • Folder 7 The Ice, 1991 - 2005
    • Folder 8 Light Cities, 2010

Additional Materials

    Archive F10 Oversized Items

    • 5-#1 Pack Ice Outside Davis (16-07), Silver gelatin print mounted on mat board, Jan. 24, 1991
    • 5-#6 Fuel Drums on Ice, Chinese Base, Larsemann Hills (37-02), Silver gelatin print mounted on mat board, Jan. 29, 1991
    • 5-#7 Pack Ice and Icebergs, Larsemann Hills (37-04), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 29, 1991
    • 5-#12 Pack Ice & Rocks, Larsemann Hills (right side) (5b), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • 5-#13 Aerial of Plateau near Trajer Ridge (white on white) (47-08), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • 5-#15 Magnetic Island (91-8b), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 1, 1991
    • 5-#23b Davis at Dusk (91-12b), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 6, 1991
    • 6-#4 Mt. Parsons, David Range, Framnes Mountains (Mawson) (76-01), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 12, 1991
    • 6-#5a Mt. Parsons, David Range, Framnes Mountains (left side) (78-02), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 12, 1991
    • 6-#5b Mt. Parsons, David Range, Framnes Mountains (right side) (78-03), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 12, 1991
    • 7-#1 The Ice no.1 (12602), C-print, Oct. 1, 1991
    • 7-#2 The Ice no. 2 (12603), C-print, Oct. 1, 1991
    • 7-#7 The Ice no. 7 (12608), C-print, Oct. 1, 1991

    Archive F16 Oversized Items

    • 2-#1 Albuquerque Six Drive-in Movie, New Mexico, 1979
    • 2-#2 Interstate 25, New Mexico, 1980
    • 2-#3 Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, 1980
    • 2-#4 Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Yosemite National Park, California, 1981
    • 2-#5 From O’Shaughnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite, 1981
    • 2-#6 O’Shaughnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Yosemite, 1981
    • 2-#7 Trans Alaska Pipeline, Brooks Range Foothills, Alaska, 1981 (three-print panorama)
    • 4-#1 Trinidad, Colorado, 1982 (three-print panorama)
    • 4-#2a Navajo Lake, New Mexico - Left, 1982 (three-print panorama)
    • 4-#2b Navajo Lake, New Mexico - Center, 1982 (three-print panorama)
    • 4-#2c Navajo Lake, New Mexico - Right, 1982 (three-print panorama)
    • 4-#3 Murchison Dam Under Construction, Tasmania, 1982 (three-print panorama)

    Archive F31 Oversized Items

    • 5-#24 Davis Ice Edge (14a), C-print, Nov. 14, 1991
    • 5-#25 Davis Ice Edge (14c), C-print, Nov. 14, 1991
    • 5-#26 Manning Island, Broknes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills (31a), C-print, Nov. 26, 1991
    • 5-#27 Manning Island, Broknes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills, Lorne Kriwoken (31b), C-print, Nov. 26, 1991
    • 5-#28 Manning Island, Larsemann Hills (33b), C-print, Nov. 27, 1991
    • 5-#29 Dalk Glacier, Larsemann Hills (39a), C-print, Nov. 30, 1991
    • 5-#30a Dalk Bay, Larsemann Hills (42a), C-print, Nov. 30, 1991
    • 5-#30b Dalk Bay, Larsemann Hills, David Stephenson (42b), C-print, Nov. 30, 1991
    • 5-#31 Dalk Glacier, Larsemann Hills (43a), C-print, Nov. 30, 1991
    • 5-#32 Dalk Glacier, Larsemann Hills (43d), C-print, Nov. 30, 1991
    • 5-#33 Plateau near Nella Lake, Larsemann Hills (45d), C-print, Dec. 1, 1991
    • 5-#34 Nella Lake, Larsemann Hills (46a), C-print, Dec. 1, 1991
    • 5-#35 Plateau near Nella Lake, Larsemann Hills (47a), C-print, Dec.1, 1991
    • 5-#36 Lorne Kriwoken Climbing on the Plateau near Nella Lake, Larsemann Hills (47d), C-print, Dec. 1, 1991
    • 5-#37 Aerial View of Plateau Between Davis and Law (133a), C-print, Dec. 1, 1991
    • 5-#38 Aerial View near Dalk Glacier (133b), C-print, Dec. 1, 1991
    • 5-#39 Aerial of Pack Ice Between Law and Davis (58c), C-print, Dec. 2, 1991
    • 5-#40 Aerial, Law-Davis Lead in Sea Ice (57a), C-print, Dec. 5, 1991
    • 5-#41 Aerial, Davis-Law Lead in Sea Ice (57d), C-print, Dec. 5, 1991
    • 5-#42a Aerial of Plateau near Platcha, Davis (60a), C-print, Dec. 6, 1991
    • 5-#42b Aerial of Plateau near Platcha, Davis (60b), C-print, Dec. 6, 1991
    • 5-#42c Aerial of Plateau near Platcha, Davis (60c), C-print, Dec. 6, 1991
    • 5-#42d Aerial of Plateau near Platcha, Davis (60d), C-print, Dec. 6, 1991
    • 5-#43 Penguin Colony, Gardner Island, Davis (61c), C-print, Dec. 6, 1991
    • 5-#44 Aerial of Seals on Sea Ice, Davis-Law (64d), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#45 Aerial, Davis-Law (65d), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#46 Aerial, Davis-Law, Seals on Lead in Sea Ice (66a), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#47 Aerial, Davis-Law, Penguins (66c), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#48a Aerial of Plateau, Davis-Law (67a), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#48b Aerial View of Plateau between Davis and Law (67b), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#48c Aerial View of Plateau between Davis and Law (67c), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#48d Aerial View of Plateau between Davis and Law (67d), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#49 Aerial, Davis-Law (69a), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#50a Aerial, Davis-Law, Lead in Sea Ice (71a), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#50b Aerial, Davis-Law, Lead in Sea Ice (71b), C-print, Dec. 7, 1991
    • 5-#51 Crevasse in Dalk Glacier, Larsemann Hills (83c), C-print, Dec. 10, 1991
    • 5-#52 Aerial, Stornes Peninsula (84c), C-print, Dec. 11, 1991
    • 5-#53 Aerial of Melt Pools, Stornes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills (86c), C-print, Dec. 11, 1991
    • 5-#54 Dalk Glacier, Larsemann Hills (95c), C-print, Dec. 13, 1991
    • 5-#55 Midnight Sun Path Across Plateau, Near Nella Lake, Larsemann Hills (102b), C-print, Dec. 14, 1991
    • 5-#56 Orca with Helicopter, Law-Davis (104d), C-print, Dec. 17, 1991
    • 6-#6 Mawson Ice Edge (11d), C-print, Nov. 12, 1991

    Archive S-Box 10

    • #1a Hobart from Otago Bay 1, 2010 (three-print panorama)
    • #1b Hobart from Otago Bay 2, 2010 (three-print panorama)
    • #1c Hobart from Otago Bay 3, 2010 (three-print panorama)
    • #2a San Francisco from Twin Peaks 1, 2010 (four-print panorama)
    • #2b San Francisco from Twin Peaks 2, 2010 (four-print panorama)
    • #2c San Francisco from Twin Peaks 3, 2010 (four-print panorama)
    • #2d San Francisco from Twin Peaks 4, 2010 (four-print panorama)

    Archive S-Box 72

    • #1 Aerial, David Range, Framnes Mountains (64-01), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 11, 1991
    • #2 Aerial, David Range, Framnes Mountains (65-04), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 11, 1991
    • #3 Fang Peak, David Range, Framnes Mountains (70-07), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 12, 1991
    • #16 Magnetic Island (8b), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 1, 1991
    • #19 Trajer Ridge, Vestfold Hills (11b), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 3, 1991
    • #20a Trajer Ridge, Vestfold Hills (left) (11a), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 3, 1991
    • #20b Trajer Ridge, Vestfold Hills (right) (12a), Resin-coated silver print, Feb. 3, 1991

    Archive S-Box 87

    • #1a Confluence of Delta and Tanana Rivers from Below (left), DS3.1.1, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #1b Confluence of Delta and Tanana Rivers from Below (center), DS3.1.1, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #1c Confluence of Delta and Tanana Rivers from Below (right), DS3.1.1, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #2 Plateau near Platcha, Vestfold Hills (91-1a), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 25, 1991
    • #2a Confluence of Delta and Tanana Rivers from Above (left), DS3-4, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #2b Confluence of Delta and Tanana Rivers from Above (center), DS3-4, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #2c Confluence of Delta and Tanana Rivers from Above (right), DS3-4, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #3 Plateau near Platcha, Vestfold Hills (91-2b), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 25, 1991
    • #3a Brooks Range Foothills (left), DS3.3.1, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #3b Brooks Range Foothills (center), DS3.3.1, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #3c Brooks Range Foothills (right), DS3.3.1, Toned gelatin print, 1981
    • #4a Right Side of Panorama near Platcha, Vestfold Hills (91-2a), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 25, 1991
    • #4b Left Side of Panorama near Platcha, Vestfold Hills (91-1b), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 25, 1991
    • #5 Platcha, Vestfold Hills (23-06), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 26, 1991
    • #8a Larsemann Hills 1 (left side), Cibachrome print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • #8b Larsemann Hills 2 (right side), Cibachrome print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • #9 Pack Ice in Prydz Bay, Antarctica (38-06), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • #10 Aerial View of Iceberg in Prydz Bay (38-04), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • #11 Aerial View of Pack Ice in Prydz Bay (39-03), Silver gelatin print, Jan. 30, 1991
    • #14 Magnetic Island, near Davis Station (91-7b), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 1, 1991
    • #17 Magnetic Island near Davis Station (91-8a), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 2, 1991
    • #18 Magnetic Island near Davis Station (91-8b), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 2, 1991
    • #21 Trajer Ridge, Vestfold Hills, Davis (91-10b), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 3, 1991
    • #22a Panorama of Plateau from Trajer Ridge (Left Panel), Vestfold Hills (91-11a), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 3, 1991
    • #22b Panorama of Plateau from Trajer Ridge (Right Panel), Vestfold Hills (91-12a), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 3, 1991
    • #23a From Davis Station, Dusk (91-12b), Silver gelatin print, Feb. 6, 1991