Landscape Distilled

Richard Konecky’s Kenya photos are resonant of Paul Klee’s dictum “The intention is not to reflect the visible but to make visible.” The act of making visible, in this instance, is to delve into the reflected landscape and distil it to its very basic lines and shapes. By looking deeply, the reflected landscape becomes something else entirely.

This is what Richard Konecky sought to achieve in his landscapes of northern Kenya. At first glance, some will strike you as richly woven tapestries, soft and flowing watercolours or sensual abstractions with a painterly quality. Others might strike you as bolder, more colourful pieces of landscape, visual shards or sound bites. These images seek to change the way the landscape is seen and to strike an emotional chord.