IMPERMANENCE, 2024
Barbara Cole’s Impermanence invites us to embrace the unknown and the ever-shifting nature of being human. Departing from the vibrant colors of her underwater work, these black-and-white photographs—shot with a 1950s camera on traditional film—feature anonymous, sheer figures that feel both expressive and elusive. By leaving the film edges intact, Cole emphasizes the tactile quality of the prints and opens a window into a world where unpredictability sparks endless possibility.
The images are never static. As you linger, new perspectives and hidden details emerge, revealing a dreamlike sense of movement. Ephemeral and poetic, each photograph captures a longing for what was and what could be, inhabiting a timeless space where identity is always in flux.
Born in Toronto in 1953, Cole works across multiple photographic mediums, including underwater photography and modernized wet collodion. Known for ethereal imagery depicting figures in states of weightlessness and transformation, she continues to push boundaries, blending traditional techniques with inventive approaches in her quest for timelessness.
Cole’s work has been exhibited worldwide, including the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo and Washington, D.C., and is featured in international corporate collections. She was the subject of an episode in the documentary series Snapshot: The Art of Photography II and published her book Between Worlds with teNeues in 2023.
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All photographs available for purchase at multiple sizes. Please inquire for sizing and pricing.
