Taras Polataiko, November 6 to 15, 2008, Darrell Bell Gallery, Saskatoon

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"Muybridge Human Locomotion 356/5"

Taras Polataiko, "Muybridge Human Locomotion 356/5," 2005, archival Chromogenic print, 37" X 25". From the Human Locomotion series.

TARAS POLATAIKO

Darrell Bell Gallery, Saskatoon

November 6 to 15, 2008

By Patricia Robertson

Taras Polataiko is currently fascinated with the human body in motion. He has made a series of photographs based on the famous studies of 19th century photographer Edward Muybridge, whose work with stop-motion photography advanced the science of understanding human and animal movement. “I’m using much longer exposures with my models,” Polataiko says. “I’ve chosen a variety of visual sequences from Muybridge’s catalogue of people ironing, running or doing chores.” In this contemporary dialogue between technology and the human body, the artist explores how they influence behaviour and perception. Polataiko started his art education in the Ukraine and Moscow before immigrating to Canada in 1989, where he earned an MFA from the University of Saskatchewan. Working in video and still photography and installation, he is also a painter. Polataiko has created a tribute to 1960’s Italian painter Lucio Fontana. The canvases appear to be cut or slashed, as Fontana was known to do, only Polataiko elects to paint in the cuts, creating an illusion for the viewer. “These pieces, The Cuts Series, are all about space, gestures and simple elegance,” he says. Gallerist Darrell Bell says the series fits in well with Polataiko’s artistic motivation. “It’s all about illusion,” Bell says. “Some people even use the word magician.”

Represented by: Darrell Bell Gallery, Saskatoon