Photography
Immensely effective in communication, photography consistently plays a large role in my process - whether in documentary form, staged compositions, or design and fine art. The ability of photography to provide elements of immediacy and apparent 'truth' lends a particular weight and requires much responsibility, which I do not take lightly when choosing this tool. I may use a photograph or several as reference in various other mediums, or I may allow the original photograph to stand alone as a piece in itself. In both cases, the end goal lies in the communication. My photographic work stems from the lineage of street documentary, perched between an acute observation of the happenstance and a heavy hand in editing. The difficulty here lies in the contradiction between the need to be constantly present and aware of the changing environment around us as well as willing to step back and see the work in a larger conceptual basis. The most compelling of photographic images is often times not the one that you thought you captured when opening the shutter.
Figuration
As an image maker I often choose to work in figurative or generally representational methods. The goal therein - to produce work which provides for an appreciation by the widest possible audience and creates an avenue toward comprehension of my purpose while leaving space for some interpretation. As my tools I use allegory and reference as well as symbolization of objects and gestures depicted. I do not hope to defy abstraction, minimalism and postmodern theories. I do hope to learn from artists continuously developing and practicing these theories about space, time and conceptualism and to demonstrate these throughout my own practice. In the contemporary realm all is relevant and irrelevant, the greatest distance is no longer an impediment, and information need not be sought out, but sifted through.
To make 'Art'
I believe this pursuit of art-making, of being an artist, of creating new things and re-representing our world (either through appropriation, allegory, abstraction, or mimesis) is inextricably linked to our innate spirituality. Searching for answers to the more difficult questions in life has given birth to both religion and science, and also - art. Even the atheist finds beauty in the forms nature creates and the intricacies of the human mind. Sometimes the artist plays the role of commentator reacting to the story line. Other times, the artist takes us by the hand, leads us through the story and gives us a small glimpse of what is really behind the veil we hide under.
A traditional Buddhist teaching story goes -
A man is running from tigers. He runs and he runs, and the tigers are getting closer and closer. He comes to the edge of a cliff. Seeing a vine there, he climbs down and holds on to it. Then he looks down and sees that there are tigers below him as well. At the same time, he notices a little mouse is gnawing away at the vine to which his is clinging. He also sees a beautiful little bunch of strawberries emerging from a nearby clump of grass. He looks up, he looks down, and he looks at the mouse. Then he picks up a strawberry, pops it in his mouth, and enjoys it thoroughly.
I want to be a storyteller.
The best artists I know do not make art because it is profitable, finds you popularity, or makes your life less complicated, because more often than not - it doesn't. They make art because they have to, it is who they are and what they do. For those of you out there working through the night, fighting an inanimate object to completion, and receiving your reward - I have taken my first wobbly steps and I hope someday to have your courage and strength.
A traditional Buddhist teaching story goes -
A man is running from tigers. He runs and he runs, and the tigers are getting closer and closer. He comes to the edge of a cliff. Seeing a vine there, he climbs down and holds on to it. Then he looks down and sees that there are tigers below him as well. At the same time, he notices a little mouse is gnawing away at the vine to which his is clinging. He also sees a beautiful little bunch of strawberries emerging from a nearby clump of grass. He looks up, he looks down, and he looks at the mouse. Then he picks up a strawberry, pops it in his mouth, and enjoys it thoroughly.
I want to be a storyteller.
The best artists I know do not make art because it is profitable, finds you popularity, or makes your life less complicated, because more often than not - it doesn't. They make art because they have to, it is who they are and what they do. For those of you out there working through the night, fighting an inanimate object to completion, and receiving your reward - I have taken my first wobbly steps and I hope someday to have your courage and strength.