Eleven
This is Dek Unu Magazine. In Esperanto, dek unu means "eleven." Eleven images from a single artist. Eleven artists in eleven solo issues in each publication year. Dek Unu publishes the work of a new artist-photographer in each issue. The artist's work and words are featured in individual focus as the sole purpose for each issue of the magazine. Unlike other arts and letters magazines which might look for work from a variety of artists to support an editorial staff's theme, at Dek Unu, theme and imagery are always each artist's own.
December’s issue features award-winning artist-photographer Howard Schatz and images from PAIRS, his 23rd published book of photographs. These studio photographs explore the intentional combination of subjects: the visual, graphic, emotional, social, physical, and even spiritual dynamic resonating and resulting from human relationships. Mother and infant. Opponent athletes. Lovers. Self with self, duplicated by multiple exposures. Often two sides of a diptych are themselves pairs, introducing multiple lines of connection, adding extra richness to the visual and conceptual dialog. Simple or complicated, subtle or obvious, each image is technically perfect, exquisitely composed, colored, and choreographed; but each also brings a surprise, a creative pop, provided by its creator’s unique vision.
Unless noted, all images
©Howard Schatz
Although they operate in different sensory realms, both musical duets and visual art pairs highlight the power of collaboration, resulting in works that are greater than either of the parts. Schatz, the composer, directs, and performs "duets" that often seem as intricate and polished as Mozart’s and as absorbing and emotionally expressive as Schumann’s. His arrangements are visual “art songs,” always lyrical counterpoints of line, color, and concept, and always carefully tuned records of surprising, creative dialogs among the artist and his subjects. Each image reveals elegant harmonies, created by a virtuoso, that invite you to linger, to study, and to return for more.
