Richard Palanuk was born, raised and educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His interest in photography began at the age of eight when he received his first camera. When he was ten, he and a group of friends constructed a cardboard fort which unexpectedly became a giant pinhole camera: "spending time inside a camera that summer definitely had an influence on my visual perception".
Music was Richard's main interest during his teenage years and it wasn't until the age of 21 that his love for photography was rekindled: "I did some teaching in a few First Nation Communities in Northern Manitoba and I took a camera with me. The images I experienced and recorded stirred something deep within me - I was hooked".
Richard attended the University of Winnipeg, studying Art History, English and Eastern Religions. It was the study of Eastern Religions that started Richard on a spiritual journey that would later have an influence on his artwork. After university, he worked for CBC Radio, CP Rail and the Province of Manitoba as a media technician. Although Richard's main duty as a technician concerned sound recording, he was given the opportunity to work as a photographer and darkroom technician. During the next three years Richard immersed himself in photography and attended Red River College to further hone his skills. He captured a variety of images for the Province of Manitoba and became skilled in the darkroom, printing black and white photographs for both the Hudson Bay and the Provincial Archives.
Richard went on to pursue a career as a freelance photographer, working with graphic designers; art directors; and editors. His particular interest in gardening images led him to assignments with Canadian Gardening magazine and related publications. During this time, Richard was offered a contract position with a museum/gallery where he had the opportunity to learn archival picture framing. He now began to concentrate on his photo-based work and started showing his images in exhibitions. Richard has since moved on to pursue his art on a full-time basis. His experimental and playful approach to photography has taken this art form to a new level.
Richard Palanuk's work is carried by Art Rental and Sales at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. His images can be found in private collections worldwide and corporate collections acquired by: Canadian Heritage, the Government of Canada, the MLCC, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the World Wildlife Fund.
Compiled and edited by Evelyn Seida & Richard Palanuk
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"It all starts with my camera. I record images that somehow find me. Once I start playing with these images, they begin to take on a life of their own. It can be quite exhilarating to experience this transformation as the images slowly become visual metaphors for inner thoughts and emotions".
Richard Palanuk
"Abstraction is getting rid of the non-essential in order to be left with purity"
Anonymous
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Information about the artwork
The limited-edition prints are titled, numbered and signed by the artist. The editions are printed individually, making each work unique. One proof is kept by the artist. Unless otherwise noted, the artwork is printed using pigmented inks on rag paper. In some cases, one edition may be available on canvas. All artwork can be ordered through Art Rental & Sales at The Winnipeg Art Gallery: telephone (204) 789-0513 or e-mail artrental@wag.mb.ca. The work that is currently available at AR&S is indicated under the titled images.
For further information, please contact Richard at rpalanuk@mts.net.