Esther Pullman : Greenhouses

From March 7 – April 20, 2008, The Drawing Room in East Hampton is pleased to present a selection of multi-paneled color panoramas from Esther Pullman’s decade-long photographic exploration of light-filled greenhouse spaces. Each panel is an individually composed and framed photograph taken with a medium format Fujica camera. Assembled into sequenced panoramas of two to six segments, they provide striking wide-angle views of often overlooked structures where plants are cultivated, including contemporary commercial hoop-houses in England and Massachusetts, 19th century private estate greenhouses, and the historic cacti collection at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.

Pullman’s photographs reveal that she is equally engaged by the profusion of lush foliage in a tropical greenhouse, the cool filtered light and modular structure of a 19th century glass house, and the surprising formal beauty of horticulture’s utilitarian mechanical systems – vents, fans, pipes and curling hoses. Ultimately though, it is the interaction of nuanced light effects, textural details and slight shifts in perspective that drive Pullman’s compositions. Her lens transforms our expected experience of these greenhouses whether empty or out of season, overflowing with abundant blossoms, abandoned or active. Amidst the plethora of sensory information, Pullman distills and guides our perception to the essential: dazzling light, cycles of growth and decay, contrasts between organic and mechanical forms, and textures that reveal the patina of time. These panoramic views capture the ancient art of cultivation and the fragility and transformative potential of the greenhouse environment.

See below for full press release and selected works.