Stephen Waddell Biography

Opening on July 9, Galerie Tanit is pleased to present an exhibition of photographs by Vancouver artist, Stephen Waddell. This will be the artist’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. Stephen Waddell was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1968 and received his M.F.A. from the University of British Columbia in 1994. He has exhibited in galleries and institutions including Monte Clark Gallery in Vancouver and Toronto; The Vancouver Art Gallery, Espai d’art contemporani de Castelló in Castello; Kunstforum Baloise in Basel and C/O Berlin. Waddell’s works are today part of the Armand Hammer Collection in Los Angeles, as well as the permanent collections of the Vancouver Art Gallery and The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. This exhibition, Flâneur, weaves its way through the various genres of photography dating back to the 80’s, both in terms of presentation and subject matter. Waddell has maintained his interest in picturing the individual lost in thought. One has to wonder whether this is, in fact, a literal description of the history of aesthetic discourse. The contemplation of the ‘beautiful’ has always been, and still is, a relatively singular and or individual pursuit. There are no set ways of depicting or observing an event, yet poetic engagement must be held higher than the rest. Waddell most often stumbles upon his subjects by chance. His pictures preserve a sense of distance and dignity, allowing us to observe his subjects at work or at play or at rest. At the same time, aided by the skillful employment of colour and composition, we are led to situate these figures in a greater scheme of things. They are given formal strength, sensuality and—perhaps most importantly of all—significance.