“At first it seemed like a closed community, but one artist would lead me to the next and before I knew it, I had entered into an amazing new world – a very tight knit community of artists, many of which live like creative nomads.,” says photographer Soren Solkaer in the foreward to his new collection called Surface. A three year project that has led the Dane to 13 cities capturing 140 artists whose practice lies along the graffiti-Street Art continuum is a revelation on many levels – who knew that you could convince so many of these undomesticated ferocious coyotes to pose? Who would have guessed that they would agree to be in staged photographs as well?

Søren Solkær: Surface (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Influenced by the Czech tradition of photography of including staging and symbolism that he studied in the mid 1990s, Solkaer brings in distinctive elements of each artists style or process to inform the orchestrated environments in these images, instantly telling you more about the subject and their work.

It is a very successful method that turns the photographer into biographer and makes the viewer into student and possibly a fan.  Naturally, this world-traveled photographic artist has also developed his own formal techniques and distinctive style so the resulting images are crisp and on-point, the ingenious surroundings and ambiance often lifting the subject into another realm.

Søren Solkær: Surface. Olek (photo © Jaime Rojo)

With a personal history that includes break-dancing as a teen in a small village in Denmark, Soren tells us that his rediscovery of the modern Street Art scene was reawakened only recently after he had long ago shifted interest away from street culture. After a successful career shooting most of the largest names in rock and popular music, he had the freedom to discover a new project where he could innovate in the space of a still evolving scene. After an introduction to Shepard Fairey and some other street artists and with a few rewarding photo shoots of personalities from this genre of autonomous art making in the public sphere, Solkear says he was hooked.

The New York launch of Surface is tonight at Allouche Gallery in Soho and a number of artists and special guests will be in attendance. When you see Soren, ask him the name of his high school breaking crew.

Søren Solkær: Surface. Strok (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Lee Quinones (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface. The London Police (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Borondo (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Tilt (photo ©Søren Solkær)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Don John (photo ©Søren Solkær)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Blek le Rat (photo ©Søren Solkær)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Borondo (photo ©Søren Solkær)

Søren Solkær: Surface. Slinkachu (photo ©Søren Solkær)

Søren Solkær: Surface (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Søren Solkær: Surface published by Gingko Press.

Søren Solkær: Surface Opens today at the Allouche Gallery in SOHO. Click HERE for more details.

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