Brad Temkin brings attention to the visual and ecological beauty of the transformation of water, by showing the structures and processes that most people do not even think about. Most storm water runoff is considered waste; yet more than 700 cities reclaim and re-use wastewater and storm water with combined sewer systems, recycling it for agricultural uses and even drinking water. As we mimic nature and separate the impurities like sludge or salt or chemicals, a transformation occurs. Temkin believes it matters less what each structure really is used for, or whether the water in his pictures are pure or waste. He is drawn instead to the strangeness of these forms and the distorted sense of scale. Moving beyond mere description, he embraces the abstract and at times surreal landscape of water transformation.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.