The work of Ben Rivers occupies a distinctive place between personal document and expressive explorations of place. Detailed intimacies of portraiture are met with suggestions of the mysterious and vast through impressionistic images of landscape. These quiet contemplations are augmented with the fervent energies of the occupants to reveal myriad layers of character. Rivers will appear in person from England to present four recent films in his portraiture series (This is My Land, Astika, Origin of Species and Ah, Liberty! ) as well as the San Francisco premiere of his latest work, A World Rattled of Habit. (Vanessa O’Neill)

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