Exhibition: Cabinet of Curiosities by Jaime Puebla
© Jaime Puebla, Comic Con. Dubai, 2012
Jaime Puebla is a photographer based in the United Arab Emirates. He's been working for The National newspaper for the past six years and alongside his job as a Staff Photographer, he also documents the unusual within the United Arab Emirates.
His personal projects focus on documenting everyday events, presenting them in an extraordinary and surreal light. Inspired by the likes of Josef Koudelka and William Eggleston, he highlights curious moments, emphasizing them with minimalist sensibilities.
Jaime Puebla will have his first solo exhibition, Cabinet of Curiosities opening on 18th November at Gulf Photo Plus and will run till 19th December 2013. There will also be a guided tour of the show on Saturday 23rd November at 6pm.
Presented in the form of a collection as early as the sixteenth century, a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ aimed to bring attention to peculiar items; matters yet to be defined.
A precursor to today’s museums, these ‘wonder rooms’ exhibited objects the collector found stimulating; items that could appear mundane to some, and extraordinary to others.
Puebla’s collection of photographs captured within the UAE look beyond the obvious, instead depicting subtleties discovered off the beaten path.
© Jaime Puebla, Halloween party, Dubai, 2012
Puebla’s compositions demonstrate an extraordinary eye for color, paired with minimalist sensibilities resulting in images that immediately seize your attention, yet allow your imagination to wander.
From the bizarre to the banal, the beautiful to bewildering, Puebla photographs the UAE’s endless barrage of visual hyperboles, peaking the viewer’s interest yet withholding the ending to each narrative.
© Jaime Puebla, Government conference, Dubai, 2011
I was not familiar with Jaime's work till now and based on these photos (I love the one from Comic Con), I can't wait to see the rest of this series.
Event details
Opening night: Monday, 18th November at 7.30pm. Exhibition will run till Thursday, 19th November.
Guided tour on Saturday, 23rd November at 6pm
Venue: Gulf Photo Plus, Alserkal Avenue, Unit D36, Street 8, Al Quoz 1 (location map)