Car Park: Under Cover

edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Astrid Schulz' solo exhibition ‘Car Park: under cover’ comprises twelve images, capturing the aftermath of a 24-hour snowstorm in the Czech Republic.

The photographs show us how the unwelcoming and unremarkable site of a car park can be transformed into a mystical scene by excessive snowfall. At the same time, the images are a reminder of the challenges that climate change, and sudden unexpected weather conditions, can pose. In the months of the captured scene (December 2005 to March 2006) many parts of Europe suffered unusual amounts of snowfall, resulting in collapsed buildings (including a congress hall, a swimming pool, an ice skating hall as well as market halls) and many hundreds of casualties in Germany, Poland, Russia, Greece, parts of Sicily and Turkey.

Exhibition visitors will be encouraged to reconsider their attitudes to issues such as reducing CO2 emissions, saving energy, walking or cycling instead of driving cars, changing our ‘throw away’ attitude and recycling materials. The exhibition coincides with the ‘United Nations Climate Conference’ in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009.

Some images are simple and minimalist, others dramatic and challenging. In several photographs, the snow frames the focal point of the image giving normally mundane objects, such as a car door handle or wing mirror, an ethereal quality. In 2007 the ‘Car Park’ series was awarded 'Highly Commended' in the Summer Open photography competition at the London Photographic Association.

Viewfinder curator Louise Forrester comments: "We're delighted to present such a striking series of images, which are not only beautiful in their own right but also remind us of the impact of climate change." This exhibition will be open to the public, free of charge, from the 27th November to 20th December at the Viewfinder Photography Gallery.

'Car Park: under cover' is part of Photomonth, the UK's largest photography festival.

Exhibition title: CAR PARK: Under Cover

Exhibition dates: 27 November to 20 December 2009

Photographer: Astrid Schulz

Venue: Viewfinder Photography Gallery, Linear House, Peyton Place, off Royal Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8RS

Opening times: Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat, Sun & bank holidays 12-4pm

Admission: free

Transport: Greenwich (DLR and Rail, 8 mins from London Bridge) ; Cutty Sark (DLR)

gallery@viewfinder.org.uk
020 8858 8351, ext. 2
www.viewfinder.org.uk

Photos shown  © Astrid Schulz

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who would rather look at snow than experience it. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.coffeeAtlas.com