stop/motion is a limited-edition series of nine photographic works by Alicia L. Swift, created in the remote expanse of the Drake Passage – the stretch of ocean dividing South America from Antarctica. Known for its volatility and scale, the passage is at once vast, isolating, and elemental. Working within this environment, Alicia turns her attention not to spectacle, but to subtlety: the shifting qualities of a single moment, observed over time.
The series centers on sunset, using it as a fixed point through which time reveals itself. Across the nine images, the ocean appears to hold steady while continuously transforming: light softens, deepens, disperses; and color and atmosphere evolve almost imperceptibly. In this way, stop/motion becomes a study in duration, inviting a slower mode of looking and a heightened sensitivity to change.
Each work is produced as an archival, museum-grade giclée print on Epson cold press paper, selected for its ability to hold depth, texture, and tonal nuance. Editions are intentionally small – released in series of 10 or 15 – to preserve the integrity and rarity of the work. Prints range in size from 12 × 16 inches to 24 × 36 inches, and are signed, numbered, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. All works are printed to order and prepared in the Astreya gallery. Framing is available for in-person acquisitions in the Astreya gallery.
Designed to be lived with, the images continue to evolve in response to their surroundings. As light shifts throughout the day, different qualities emerge – subtle variations that extend the work beyond the moment of capture, and into the rhythm of current space and time.
Experience stop/motion in the gallery: reserve a complementary viewing appointment for yourself or a small group here.
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