LZ Project Space is pleased to present Passage, a solo exhibition by Zev Jonas. While deconstructing and reframing images of people once presented in an idealized form, Jonas explores how decay, deterioration or manipulation can transform the mass-produced images into the unique. As referred to in the title and in many of the works, he uses the environmental effects of time as a medium, layered atop the pristine original to create and document the distortion of the ideal.

Jonas shoots 35mm film, capturing the depth of his detached subjects, then scans the images digitally to ensure the accurate representation of the visual elements captured via his in-camera montages without further change – a contradictory element within the creation of this work so focused on the changing face of the image. This sense of the pristine and uniform made unique through alteration carries through to the artist’s installation of this work, transforming the expected gallery space into something less familiar through non-traditional methods of display, removing the photographic object from its usual neat, uniformly framed presentation. All work of Jonas’s is untitled, undated and is often non-location-specific in order to allow people to interact with the images in their own space with no preconceived notions as to what they are seeing.

Born in Australia and currently living and working in New York, Zev Jonas began shooting over five years ago. He was selected through NYSG’s solo exhibition (RGASA) application and presented his first solo show, The Condition, in NYSG’s main gallery in 2008. In addition to being part of a number of group exhibitions at NYSG, he has most recently collaborated with Robert O’Connor to create the Everyman’s An Angel exhibition, shown at NYSG in 2009.

Additional work of Jonas’ has been displayed in solo exhibitions at ROY G BIV Gallery and The Gershwin while his work has been included in numerous group shows including Rush Arts Gallery, NY Camera Club, MH Art and Lana Santorelli Gallery. He also contributed to projects such as Kahn & Selesnick’s Eisbergfreistadt and has been featured in publications such as the SVA Arts Journal and Otoliths Magazine.