Hans Pieler SHADOWS of TIME Photo Series 1997 - 2007 The exhibition is part of the trilogy TIME, DEATH & BEAUTY Omaha, NE, April - May 2010 Curated by Dr. Matthias Harder, Helmut Newton Foundation Berlin Photography has a great affinity with time, it is said to capture a moment in time, to deliver "snippets of time" etc. This oft-sited closeness with time actually is more a description of the task the photographer to be at the right location at the right time, rather than the ability of this medium to photographically portray time. It is not possible to actually depict time in still photographs. Rather eventually to visualize time by employing allegories such as a clock face. The photography series "Shadows of Time" shows many large "clocks" and "clock faces": Architectural structures built for the purpose of telling the time or a specific date within a year. At the right point in time the original function of these "large clocks" is visible. At these so-called calendar structures, where ancient generations could determine through light/shadow positions, specific dates such as the summer solstice, or equinox, or even a particular hour of the day. Thus enabling the year to be structured as a calendar. To be "control of time" was also notably an important power factor. Built with great astronomical knowledge, the structures and observatories operated as three-dimensional space/time installations. They reflected in their form the operations of the sky and astronomical systems. Even today observatories are built in certain forms following the requirements of their function. The architecture becomes time and therefore a visual symbol of time. Through a photo capturing the two-dimensional reduction of this image, the symbol becomes clearly recognizable. The archeological components are also reflected in the silver- based material of conventional photography. A special enlargement technology is used that enables the shadows and areas of depth to be emphasized. All parameters such as color, contrast and density are dependent on the (exposure) time. The exhibition prints are archival pigment inkjet prints on rag paper.