To coincide with the soft opening of our new space in Aberdeen, Alisan Fine Arts is pleased to present A brush with nature, our third solo exhibition for the award-winning landscape photographer Stephen King. Fascinated by patterns formed by nature, King enjoys traveling the world in search of images that explore the landscape's capacity for both drama and serenity. King's work has been described as painterly, a style he cultivates through his use of light, colour and composition. Featuring his recent photographs taken during his travels in Scotland, Iceland, the US and Japan, most of which have never been shown before, this exhibition examines nature’s varied patterns through King’s lens that verge on abstraction and evoke the Chinese ink brush stroke.

The gallery has been representing King since 2015: coordinating his first show in Hong Kong, a joint exhibition Un/natural: photographs by Stephen King and Ming Thein in 2015; organising his first and second solo exhibitions Rhythms in nature in 2018 and Synchronicity in 2020; and showcasing his work at Art Basel Hong Kong 2016 and 2017, Fine Art Asia 2018 and Taipei Dangdai in 2020. King has also shown his work in Menlo Park, New York and Paris. His large scale prints have proved popular with private and corporate collectors around the world and his images have been featured in public spaces around Hong Kong including at "Otto e Mezzo”, Hong Kong's popular three-star Michelin restaurant.

King's photos have won awards and distinctions at many of the world's most popular photo competitions. Additionally, his work has been featured in numerous prestigious art and photography publications including National Geographic, Asia Art News, Zoom Magazine and Art Investment Magazine. King regularly supports charity auctions by donating his work to raise funds for worthy causes.

Artist talk

In conversation with Stephen King. Landscape Photography as Contemporary Art. Saturday, 28 September 2024, 3pm-5pm.

With close readings of the works in the exhibition and personal anecdotes, this conversation promises to give us insight into how King's distinctive approach enriches the discourse around landscape photography in the context of contemporary art practice.

In this fireside chat, we'll explore how Stephen King uses his craft to create painterly images that evoke emotional responses and challenge viewers' perceptions of nature; how his works draws themes and inspirations from contemporary art masters while retaining the unique qualities of photography. His keen eye for light, color, and composition not only reflects the beauty of the landscapes he captures but also engages with broader art historical themes.