Heliophobia, or Fear of Sunshine, ©Ed Gendron 2022 (edition of 50)
An archival print / original artwork by Ed Gendron
This is a limited edition (of 50 total) by Ed Gendron. When they're gone - they're just gone.
(watermark is for display purposes only)
When I began this series, I was very interested in surrealism as well as making something purposefully irreverent. A lot of art, (including some of mine) has lofty concepts - but this series really just revels in the absurd. Sometimes it's pretty, sometimes it's grotesque. Sometimes I worked with a lot of "platitudes" or tropes. I began this series in oil painting. But it's expanded to digital photography and found images as well.
I discovered this vintage B/W photo while working on a documentary about World War II reenactors*.
This appears to be a tear gas drill as opposed to deadly gas**. Though it makes me think of the deadly gas that the nazis used. And in the back of my mind, I created a scenario that reversed the whole meaning of this photo.
I thought...
"What is it that they are afraid of?"
"What would they need a mask to protect themselves from?"
And then I thought "Well, they represent evil, so it must be something good"
And then I thought "Sunshine!, Who doesn't like sunshine?" Well, this image is loosely based around the old quote "Sunshine is the Best Disinfectant". Sunshine, literally is a good disinfectant for microbes. In this case, the quote means that evil breeds in secrecy. It's best to drag it out into the light for all to see. And that's best even if it's unpleasant or difficult to look at. Evil cannot flourish there.
In the photo, the foreboding, evil figures are attempting to evade the sunshine. They've put on their gas masks for protection. Meanwhile, the valentines candy steadily spews warm, healthy, sunshine and they can't hide forever.
If you like this kind of work, then check out some of my other "Pop Surrealist" photos/paintings in this series. As the Talking Heads advised us "Stop Making Sense".
I'm offering two different sizes, choose Small or medium size. (for larger sizes, please contact me )
Please choose "art only" or "framed, and ready to hang"
• The Medium framed version of this print arrives in a white or black frame, complete with matte, and clear polystyrene cover. Signed on the back, Frame size 16x20 inches, comes wired and ready to hang. And by the way, Klarna is available. you can pay in 4 easy installments of $46.25.
• The Medium unframed version arrives packaged in protective cellophane and inside a sturdy cardboard mailer. This option is less expensive for those who wish to choose a different frame, or already have a frame, or
simply wish to show it unframed.
Image size is approximately 10x15
• The small unframed version arrives packaged in protective cellophane and inside a sturdy cardboard mailer. This option is less expensive for those who wish to choose a different frame, or already have a frame, or
simply wish to show it unframed.
Image size is approximately 8x10
• The small framed version of this print arrives in a white or black frame and clear polystyrene cover. Signed on the back, Frame size 8x10 inches, comes wired and ready to hang.
All prints are archival prints, and signed by myself, for authenticity. This edition is limited to 50 prints. The paper is acid-free, smooth, and archival (photo matte and 105 gsm). Prints are printed in my studio in New Haven, CT.
You can find me on Instagram: @edwingendron
All work copyrighted © by Edwin Gendron. Artist reserves all rights protected under the United States Copyright Act for all artwork or other products purchased. The sale of a given artwork does not include any assignment, transfer, or license to purchaser of the right to reproduce, modify, or create derivative works of any artwork or product, unless such right is expressly granted in writing by the artist.
* For examples of this work, please see my other section, entitled "Weird Documentary photos"
** I believe that the gas in this particular photo, was probably tear gas (as opposed to the poisonous kind, that tragically, was used in the death camps) because several soldiers have removed their masks.