Shallow Waters exhibition
Press release:
In her new London show, Rubin invites the viewers into an intimate exploration of family life on a hot Summer’s day along the River Tech in Céret, nestled in the French Catalan region. She captures her family, at first restless, agitated by the heat, hunger and fatigue, then yielding to the joys of the cool waters. We are transported by the tranquillity of the landscape and the casual framing of the compositions to an almost dreamscape, an echo of another place, another time.
Rubin’s work delves into the complexities of familial relationships, inviting the viewer to reflect on simple moments of daily life, to notice the nuances of shared experiences. Shallow Waters touches on themes of motherhood, coming of age and childhood while subtly acknowledging the transient nature of our troubled world.
In one photograph, we see a teenage girl floating in the water, eyes closed, hair flowing, lost in the moment. In another self-portrait, the artist directs her gaze defiantly at the camera, her oblivious children playing in the background, a poignant statement on her dual role as both mother and artist.
A glimpse of a family vacation, these images encapsulate a positive fleeting moment in time but also allude to the looming war-torn homeland behind Rubin’s lens. We feel the forces that flow underneath all our lives, shape them, and continually alter our future.
Silia Ka Tung, Curator
Artist Statement:
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” Heraclitus It was during summer afternoons spent along the banks of the river Le Tech, nestled in the Pyrenees' foothills, I discovered a hidden sanctuary for my family and myself. We gathered restless and agitated by the heat, yet, as we settled down by the river's edge, waiting for the right moment to dip our toes into the cold water, something quietly profound unfolded. I watched my family navigate the environment, each one caught in their own whirlpool of irritation and reluctance, gradually yielding to nature’s simple joys. Life often feels like wading through moving water; It embodies our existence; we emerge from it, fear it, and seek to float in its embrace. Occasionally we may find relief on the banks and glide through currents that connect, or isolate us.
As I embrace my new role as a mother, I try to guide my children but sometimes feel utterly lost in the journey. I want to be to be their trusted anchor, yet I yearn for the carefree days when my only responsibility was to myself. My artistic journey is intricately woven into the exploration of people and relationships, particularly the complexities of family dynamics. My work reconsiders familiar moments of daily life, inviting viewers to notice the nuances of our shared human experience. My process is intuitive, creating space for moments of revelation to unfold before the lens. The camera’s accessible nature feels liberating, allowing me to be both an observer and an active participant—immersed in the scene yet distanced by the lens. It becomes a collaborative act with my subjects, born from a deep-seated desire to hold space and belong, as I navigate themes of detachment, disillusionment, and longing. Through my work, I hope to convey that photographs drawn from the world as it is can possess remarkable qualities in their simplicity and truth.