Catherine Yass

Grave: Robertus Blair

About this artwork

This light-box is from the series of five works called ‘Grave’ which continued Yass’s exploration of cultural and historical environments. ‘Grave’ was commissioned by the Portfolio Gallery in Edinburgh and was first exhibited at their gallery overlooking Greyfriars Churchyard, where the photographs were taken. By combining negative and positive images, Yass highlights the constructed nature of photography. In the colour negative images she uses, bright light is transformed into a vivid blue. This gives a spiritual dimension to her images, which is particularly appropriate for the ‘Grave’ series. Yass disturbs the relationship between light and dark, contrasting the skeletal, white trees against a vividly-coloured and surreal sky.

Updated before 2020

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  • artist:
    Catherine Yass (born 1963) English
  • title:
    Grave: Robertus Blair
  • date created:
    1997
  • materials:
    Photographic transparency and light box
  • measurements:
    89.00 x 72.50 x 12.50 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 1998
  • accession number:
    GMA 4196
  • gallery:
  • subject:
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Catherine Yass

Catherine Yass