Tom Epperson: 12 Below

12 Below marks the first US solo exhibition for Tom Epperson, an American photographer based in the Philippines. In recent years, Epperson has been experimenting with the properties of ice, an unusual medium which is the inspiration behind this new photographic series. While watching a documentary about the possibility of a future Ice Age, Epperson began to wonder what would happen if another Ice Age were to begin this year. What objects from our civilization would the next generation find in the ice?

Epperson explains: “I decided to focus my story on one family, a Filipino family, and some of their most treasured belongings, most of which existed elsewhere, while some were uniquely inherent in the Philippines.” Examples of the frozen objects include iconic children’s toys, a traditional fan women often use in church (shown along with a rosary), dried fish from the corner store, sampaguita flowers, the balisong (a collapsible knife used for self-defense), and a T-shirt showing the famous Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquiao. Epperson juxtaposes these images to create an oblique narrative exploring issues of Filipino identity in our contemporary, globalized world.

Epperson continues: “The objective behind this theme is to show traces of other cultures in the Philippines while it continues to retain its own identity, a reality that one hopes to preserve despite changing eras and distant futures.“

The title of the exhibition refers to the temperature, -12˚C, of the industrial freezer where Epperson freezes various objects in large blocks of ice, some weighing up to 80 pounds. Before photographing, he transports the blocks to his studio, where he manipulates the ice using heat and carving tools to achieve his desired effect. He then experiments with lighting to highlight the refracting properties of the ice, with astonishing results.

In 2005, Epperson became the first photographer to be given a solo exhibition at the Ayala Museum, one of the most important cultural institutions of the Philippines. With 12 Below, Epperson’s work has taken a dramatic new turn. We are delighted to present this exhibition at Tyler Rollins Fine Art as part of the gallery’s continuing focus on contemporary art from Southeast Asia.