Torn Landscape, 2020-2023 . Inkjet print on transparency film, nails, magnets 

Alex Cassetti is a New York based photographic artist who explores new approaches to the display and format of photographic images. Cassetti brings sculptural, installation, and site-specificity aspects to the presentation of photographs in direct response to an increasingly digitized medium. His sculptural approach to photography goes beyond seeing conventional images on a screen, or flat pictures on a gallery wall. Cassetti investigates photography’s materiality, and reacts to the possibilities that expand beyond two dimensions. His studies of physical photographic objects explore spatial complexity of the image - going beyond the flat photograph and documentary recording.  

Within his collection "Bending Light," Alex Cassetti's "Torn Landscape" explores the intricate interplay between photographs and light. The outcome is a multi-dimensional work that effortlessly transcends the limitations of the conventional two-dimensional frame.  

"Torn Landscapes" utilises a cut print to create a sense of transparency and depth within the photograph. Cassetti employs a unique process, displaying his work using hanging elements that extend from the wall. This method generates shadows and creates a three-dimensional quality that transforms his image into a tangible, immersive object.  

When removed from the conventional gallery setting, the images become accessible, yet retains an intriguing sense of distance. It manages to be both flat and multi-dimensional simultaneously. Through his masterful manipulation of light, shadow, and reflections, Cassetti crafts surreal compositions that invite viewers to explore dreamlike spaces and contemplate the interplay of space and memory. 

The repetition of images in our culture degrades the impact of photography. The visual surprise of seeing an original artwork for the first time can quickly disappear as the work is shared digitally. As a reaction to this, artists are exploring photographs as an expansive medium the physicality of their work and there is an increased interest in physical objects once again.