Jeremy Shaw

born in 1977, North Vancouver - lives and works in Berlin

Towards Universal Pattern Recognition is a series of photo-based, sculptural works by Jeremy Shaw. He uses archival press photos showing people who appear to have experienced an altered state of mind. The titles come from handwritten notes and archive labels that can be found on the backs of the original photos. The images are presented behind custom-cut prisms that repeat, refract, and distort the subjects. One image appears as an enlarged wallpaper.
Through shifts in scale and the visual effects of the prism, Shaw explores how meaning can shift.
Jeremy Shaw often combines elements of spirituality and science in his conceptually motivated artwork. He examines how images are shaped by history, media, and collective imagination, and how visuals influence our understanding of reality.

Towards Universal Pattern Recognition (‘Instant‘ relaxation. Houston Chronicle. THU DEC 14 1978), Original archive press photograph, custom-cut prism, chrome, 38.3 x 43 x 16 cm, Courtesy of the artist and Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal, CA, Photo: Timo Ohler.

Towards Universal Pattern Recognition, Dance Marathon - 6 hours still to go. Saturday March 18, 1985, 2021, Original archive press photograph, custom-cut prism, chrome 42.5 x 37.4 x 16 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal, CA, Photo: Timo Ohler.

Towards Universal Pattern Recognition, ‘Instant‘ relaxation. Houston Chronicle. THU DEC 14 1978, 2018, Original archive press photograph, custom-cut prism, chrome, 38.3 x 43 x 16 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal, CA, Photo: Timo Ohler.

Towards Universal Pattern Recognition, Supine Pose. SUN-TIMES OCT 6 1970, 2024, Original archive press photograph, custom-cut prism, chrome, 42.5 x 37.7 x 16 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal, CA, Photo: Timo Ohler.