The London-based Michael Hoppen Gallery announces esteemed photographer, Simon Norfolk’s third exhibition of photography from August 3^rd – September 8th.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

“The winter snow marches up to summer peaks and then slowly returns, like the gentlest of waves lapping on a lakeshore. The surface of a field rises when it is full of crops and falls again when it is harvested. When the branch of a tree is full of sap it is heavy and it leans, in the autumn it is lighter and it ebbs” (Simon Norfolk).

The Michael Hoppen Gallery of Chelsea, London has announced the August 3^rd debut of photographer Simon Norfolk’s gallery, Time Taken.  Although this is Norfolk's third exhibition of photography, it is the first time the entire series will be shown together in the UK.

Interested in documenting the effects of war on the natural landscape of the Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan, Norfolk visited the region to study it through photography.

A site once famous for its numerous Buddhist monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, the Bamiyan Valley is now a testament to the Taliban’s tragic destruction of two 170-foot Buddha statues in March 2001.

Seeking to capture the slow and silent demise of the area, Norfolk set-up his camera in 12 different locations over the course of a year to photograph its changes.

The result is a gallery of images that reveal the constant presence of war in Afghanistan, while displaying nature’s ability to persevere and continue to grow, much like the Afghani people. Norfolk admits, “The main creation of Afghan culture is the landscape itself. It is all around, but one has to stop, sit quietly and take Time, to see it at work.”

Preview Norfolk’s moving exhibit that will be on display at the Michael Hoppen Gallery from August 3^rd - September 8^th 2015 below: