Evocative Wanderlust

Beetles+Huxley, London, are hosting the first ever London exhibition of Alec Soth’s Sleeping by the Mississippi. Coinciding with a photobook published by MACK, (originally published by Steidl in 2004), it is one of the defining examples of the form, representative of contemporary photography at its best. The boundary-pushing volume carries the documentary style into new depths, whilst offering an unprecedented source of immersion for each and every reader. As renowned Magnum photographer Martin Parr notes: “It’s hard to believe that the first edition of Sleeping By The Mississippi appeared only in 2004, so swiftly has the book become a classic of our time.” The tumultuous and brooding landscape of America is captured and presented bound in printed linen as a truly mesmerising experience. Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota and Missouri are amongst the spellbinding locations – each of which is laid open through cinematic intimacy.

13 years on, the compositions are just as affecting, with American iconography at the fore, and a poetic sense of character that is both haunting and ethereal. The show pulls upon this romanticised format in large-scale photographs that present an eclectic mix of individuals, landscapes, and interiors. The gallery include over 25 of the works, including one never-before-exhibited image.

 

Alec Soth: Sleeping By The Mississippi, 20 September – 21 October, Beetles + Huxley, London. For more information: www.beetlesandhuxley.com

Credits:
1.  HARBOR MARINA (MORNING), MEMPHIS, TN, 2000. ALEC SOTH (Born 1969).