Brandon Sward
Matthew Cohn
During the pandemic....
Matthew Cohn and Brandon Sward found themselves in upstate New York and Southern Montana, respectively; both locations in which they’d spent time previously, but never as much as they were about to.
1. “1a/1b/2c.” 35mm black and white negatives
And so, they began to take pictures…
2. “2a/2b/2c.” Silver gelatin print of 1. 8” x 10”.
Brandon sent a few rolls of film, initially because his darkroom wasn’t set up yet, and Matthew developed and printed the negatives. What followed over the coming months was a back and forth, a call and response.
3. “3a/3b/3c.” Drawings of prints from 2. Charcoal on Paper. 18” x 24”
4. “4a/4b/4c.” Photographs of 3. 35mm black and white negatives.
…In a way, the experience felt a bit like a play for these former actors: waiting for a cue, seeking the truth of a moment.
5. “5a/5b/5c.” Silver gelatin prints from combined negatives of 1 and 4. 5”x 7”.
…The collaboration became an end in itself, the process of
building on each other’s work a way of connecting in an alienating and isolating historical moment.
6. “6abc.” Cut-up silver gelatin prints from 5, spray adhesive, gesso, canvas, wood, staples, 16” x 20”.
About the Artists
