It was not all that long ago that many questioned the place of photography in the realm of art; It was seen perhaps, as too easy in recreating reality; yet its impact on the visual arts is considerable. It is itself the product of western art and science and it is unthinkable without the Renaissance and its push to recreating the real world in art.

With the invention of photography in 1839 by Louis Daguerre, it took less than five years for it to become a commercially viable enterprise here in Bermuda.

It was also during the Victorian period that we find the beginnings of photo montage, which is a special kind of collage made with cut-outs from several different photos. These are then combined to create a unique image. Of similar result is also the double exposure. These developments took photography from being just a reproducer of reality to a more creative, inventive role.

Today photography and its offspring, cinematography, have come into their own and now make up an important part of the art gallery and museum world.

All this is background to the current exhibition entitled Over & Over in the Rick Faries Gallery at the Masterworks Museum. This exhibition showcases the creations of two photographer artists, Tristan Narraway and Signe Constable.

In the case of Narraway, she utilises a related technique to that of photomontage, with an emphasis on lichens and fungi, but also architecture. She has a degree in science, (physics), which lends itself to her interest in photography, it being the outcome of both physics and chemistry.

I know I am being flippant, but when seeing Narraway’s compositional pathways, they typically meander along serpentine passageways that remind me of the game, Snakes & Ladders. This is not a negative criticism, just a factual observation.

Signe Constable is both a digital and analogue photographer, meaning she uses both digital and traditional film photography.

In this show she investigates the double exposure, meaning the combining of two different images on one piece of film. It’s a chancey approach to image making in that the outcome is uncertain, that is until the film is developed and then the result might be surprisingly good or a complete failure.

There is one work by Constable that stands out for me. Its called Planted, Watered. It’s a double exposure of a symmetrical Bermudian façade overspread by vegetation. Her title suggests that the house is settled, planted and the green vegetation watered.

Since I had only a slight exposure to the work of these two artists before seeing this exhibition, I wondered what I would find. I have to say, this show is a treat for one’s eyes. I think you too will benefit from a visit.

I seldom write anything about pricing, if indeed the exhibition is a selling show, but with this exhibition, their prices are very modest and in terms of size, the art fits comfortably within a Bermuda house setting.

The show ends on March 4, 2025. You have maybe ten days to see it before it comes down, but with your visit, you could also stop over at their café, The Botanist, for lunch or afternoon tea. This could be a really civilised experience.