Sometimes thinking under the principle of “less is more” holds very relevant aspects in regard to artistic beauty. David Fokos’ exhibit, “Borrowed Time,” at Balboa Park’s Museum of Photographic Arts, demonstrates both his allegiance to the minimalist ethic and his ability to produce simple yet tantalizing work.
Apart from the mainstream ideal of photography as a means to simply record a single moment, Fokos’ work captures the importance of singular objects in arresting black and white. What may be a normal image of the coastal landscape of Chilmark, Mass., Fokos transforms into three simple poles sticking out of the water’s surface. His photographic art takes such an emphasis on single focal points within the picture that what remains of the time, location or memory diminishes into superfluous details.
Fokos is a Cornell University graduate and has exhibited his masterpieces in various locations across the nation. His last exhibition was at the Paul Kopeikin Gallery in Los Angeles, and his work has made its way into various collections, including Banana Republic and the McGraw-Hill Collection. Fokos has also appeared in many publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Spot magazine and B&W magazine. Although he now resides in sunny San Diego, Fokos’ work shows many influences from the artist’s hometown of Baltimore.
As a Mid-Atlantic native, Fokos tends to photograph the serenity of the East Coast. His photos “The Mooring Rings” and “Black Gate Vineyard” both originate from obscure coastal locations in Massachusetts and intensely underline the contours of each and every minute object set against largely melancholic and vast backgrounds. Most of Fokos’ works are set so that the majority of the photograph is a dark haze abruptly disturbed by a single sharp image at the focal point.
Fokos’ work is influenced by both modern and ancient tools. He captures his images primarily with a century-old, large format camera but touches them up with slight digital treatment. The results can be observed in his many gallery exhibitions, collections and publications — satisfyingly simple and still deep, while retaining their minimalist appeal.
