Southeast Museum of Photography to host “Fact/Fiction” by acclaimed photographer Andrew Sovjani

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (September 26, 2023) – “Fact/Fiction: Constructed Images,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of visual artist Andrew Sovjani – recognized for blurring the boundaries between photography, printmaking and painting – opens today at the Southeast Museum of Photography at Daytona State College. 

Fact/Fiction showcases Sovjani’s evolving practice, allowing for comparisons to be drawn between three distinct bodies of his work: Whitewashed, Paper White and Fabrication of Space. His photographs serve as a vehicle for analysis and interpretation, representing both art and artifact, revelation and fabrication. His process of constructing, arranging and revising is part of an overall performance just as important as the finished print. His artistic intention – and intervention – is evident in each piece.

Sovjani’s work centers around perception and exploration; his imagery is a response to the ever-changing landscape of photography, technology and social trends. His works possess similar methodologies but are varied in their approach. 

In his first series Whitewashed, the artist is preoccupied with recording the outward appearance of an object, enhancing its surface patterns, textures and shape by painting it uniformly white. Sovjani employs the technique of whitewashing for a specific purpose – to obscure identifying titles and allow the viewer’s attention “time to absorb the books physicality.” By removing these distractions, he reveals the individual character of each book. Slightly worn edges of cloth. Variations of texture and volume. These details stand out in abundance, enhanced by his thought-provoking arrangements and use of contrast. Sovjani uses his own photographs as raw materials along with found objects. Reappropriating fragments of prints, he carefully slices angled sections to integrate within his scene. As the series continues, his tableaux become increasingly complex, meant to serve as a reminder of the multi-sensory experiences we are losing as we adopt more digital devices.

In Paper White, his second series, the artist concerns himself with line, shape and form, meticulously arranging a simple material: paper. What was once considered nondescript – a literal blank page – is transformed by the interplay of light and shadow. Allowing natural light to filter across each set up, Sovjani uses it to his advantage, exaggerating the delicate tension between the sharp creases, gentle curves and cascading folds. While not wholly abstract, one can easily conjure an array of interpretations from each. Sovjani suggests that viewers look closely, as paper “can be transformed into the curves of a figure, the movement of a wave or the buildings of a city block.” Some appear to float in space while others are more grounded, creating a labyrinthine effect.  

In his third series, Fabrication of Space, Sovjani takes on one of the earliest forms of creative expression – ideographic symbols – to communicate his vision in a new way. Merging his photographic imagery with mark making, he manipulates each print through a process of selective bleaching, toning and redevelopment in the darkroom. Utilizing a combination of artistry and analog techniques, he creates layered compositions imbued with meaning. Each image possesses its own narrative – communicating an idea or concept – and becomes, in the words of the artist, a 'launching point for spatial play, illusion and interpretation.' 

No longer tied to physical objects, his abstract depictions introduce worlds of intersecting lines and geometric symbols that push the boundaries of visual reality and our cognitive associations. Individual elements within the frame appear to float or shift, advancing or receding into the background. This creates an illusory sense of movement and transformation, though the print itself remains a singular, two-dimensional photograph. Maintaining the integrity of the print surface, Sovjani constrains his post-exposure alterations to only the silver particles within the surface of the print. This self-imposed limitation “encourages the development of new ways and tools to work the print, blurring the lines between photography and printmaking.” Taken as a whole, Andrew Sovjani’s photographs bridge a gap between concept, imagination and reality.

Fact/Fiction: Constructed Images will be on display through March 23, 2024 at the Southeast Museum of Photography. The exhibition and accompanying programs are free and open to the public.

Public Participation

The museum invites guests to try creating their own unique compositions at an interactive station entitled Check it Out, a nod to the vintage date slips and book pockets used in libraries. Matching the aesthetic of the artist, visitors may arrange a number of pre-selected, hand-painted books at a special workbench and then take a photograph of their creation to share.

Artist Lecture

The Southeast Museum of Photography will host a reception for Fact/Fiction: Constructed Images with an artist lecture by Andrew Sovjani on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 6-8 p.m. in the Madorsky Theater. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are encouraged.

High resolution images are available upon request. Please contact Madison Pate at Madison.Pate@DaytonaState.edu 

Images may only be used by accredited media in coverage of the Fact/Fiction exhibition.

About the Southeast Museum of Photography

The Southeast Museum of Photography is a beacon of art, culture, and education for Daytona State College and the broader community. The museum embraces Daytona State College’s emphasis on teaching and learning, and channels that mission through the medium of photography. In this way, the Southeast Museum of Photography enhances the community’s understanding and appreciation of culture, history, art and photography. In addition to rotating quarterly exhibitions, the Southeast Museum of Photography also organizes free public lectures, panel discussions, artistic workshops, and educational programs for adults, students and children.

The museum is located in the Mori Hosseini Center on the campus of Daytona State College, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL, 32114

For more information call (386) 506-4569 or email Christina.Katsolis@DaytonaState.edu