FORCE
ARTIST ANALYSIS
ARTIST ANALYSIS - KEVIN BAUMAN
Kevin Bauman is a Denver based photographer specializing in architectural, interior and industrial photography. He is better known for his personal documentry style, like his projects such as 100 Abandoned Houses, which is what I took a particular interest to. These photographs below, where taken in Detroit. Detroit is the most densely populated city in the US state of Michigan and also known as the world's automotive centre, "Detroit" is a metonym for the American automobile industry and this is truer than ever shown by the economic downfall leading to the many destruct abandoned houses which Bauman has managed to capture stylistically and truthfully.
The three photographs above are immediately striking, first and foremost for their simple composition. I chose these three out of the 100 because of their geometric lines and center focus, which make them all have a very simplistic and almost represent different situations within the same district. Many of the homes he photographed especially above have retain a faded grandeur even in their current destruct state, echoing a more prosperous age and allows you to witness the standard in which these homes would have been. The photograph on the far left strongly reflects the economical state of the area now and how the neglected care of the place has physically affected the appearance of the building by allowing the entire body and half its exterior to be destroyed and replaced by empty blackness due to, in what appears to be a fire for the cause of it. This domestic interior and new architectural defects allow the photo to become an effective form of elucidating power of socio-economic problems which occurred of the economical downfall of Detroit and thus presenting force in the sense of how it suffered due to the downfall which lead to its abandonment and how force has negatively impacted its physical appearance. The middle building is different firstly for the fact it is situated in a contrasting month, this is shown by the rich flourishing environment framing the house and almost taking control of the building;adding the element of man v nature. This image especially produces an emotional response due to the size as you can assume its a family home which had to sacrifice this, which as a viewer allows you to empathise as many people clearly have been affected by the economic downfall. The right image i was strongly drawn to the intricate pattern of cracks in the foreground of the picture which reflects the condition of the entire city and its lack of nurture. I also was particularly drawn to the warm colours sweeping the background creating a collage against the foreground. As a whole, I believe Bauman has created a strong line of work by combining all the images. This then allows each individual to relate to the uniqueness of each singular photograph, emotionally or as a physical reminder, which presents force as having a emotional bond with the viewer and the image. This is a very important aspect as creating an emotion from an art form can have a big impact and form a connection between the artist and the congregation therefore presenting the reason i included Kevin Bauman's work as part of an inspiration and a strong example of how force can be shown.
MY RESPONSE
ARTIST ANALYSIS - BILL VIOLA
Bill Viola was born 1951, Queens, New York. Most of his work focuses on the ideas behind fundamental human experiences such as birth, death and aspects of consciousness. For 40 years he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances, flat panel video pieces, and works currently for television broadcasts. Today, he is profoundly known as part of establishing video as a vital form of contemporary art, and in so doing has helped to greatly expand its scope in terms of technology, content, and historical reach. I am focusing mainly on his work on exhibition in St.Paul's Cathedral, where it is displayed in different, unique forms, however most famously like presented to the left.
These images are effective because of how dramatic they are. In every picture, the subject and focus point is in the centre of the piece. There is also something very dramatic about the way that the backgrounds are all entirely black which highlights the main focus in the foreground - that being the person and the water. I feel as though these images represent a sense of isolation and singularity that the person is experiencing. This enables the piece to easily be related to and engaged with by the audience .
In the first image, the persons chest is leading their body upwards which could be interpret as heaven calling the dead as she looks like all control has been lost. The second image evokes a deep sense of sadness and depression and the inability to get away from it hence the person being tied up by his feet preventing him from running from his sorrow. The third image give the audience a strong sense of violence as the liquid used is red resembling blood. This is also the only image in which you can see his actual facial expressions clearly. He has a contracted face looking like he is in intense pain.
In the first image, the persons chest is leading their body upwards which could be interpret as heaven calling the dead as she looks like all control has been lost. The second image evokes a deep sense of sadness and depression and the inability to get away from it hence the person being tied up by his feet preventing him from running from his sorrow. The third image give the audience a strong sense of violence as the liquid used is red resembling blood. This is also the only image in which you can see his actual facial expressions clearly. He has a contracted face looking like he is in intense pain.
MY RESPONSE
FORCE OF NATURE
The main idea for this project was to capture the constant, back and forth battle between man and nature.
INITIAL RESPONSE
SECOND RESPONSE
SECOND RESPONSE
ARTIST ANALYSIS - NADAV KENDER
Nadav Kander (born December 1, 1961) is a London-based photographer, artist and director, known for his portraiture and landscapes. Kander has produced a number of books; had his work exhibited widely; been awarded the Terence Donovan Award from the Royal Photographic Society, won the Prix Pictet and a World Press Photo award; and his work is included in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Société Générale, Paris, Pictet & Cie’s Art Collection and other museums and galleries.
There are many rough textures in this photograph. For example the floor looks very tattered and the the walls look shredded. Just like the other images the walls look extremely rough and hard . Immediately the viewers eyes are drawn the very bright mural painted on the wall . I really like that it still remains despite all the devastation that has been caused by the nuclear explosion. It really stands out in the dismal and it is the only thing that had not been effected by the explosion. Yet again in this image we can another little tree growing in a cream plant pot on the floor. The emphasises further the idea that nature defeats man as it remains strong regardless of all the trauma.
|
In this image captured by Nadav Kander , you can see a small tattered room , which is almost like a box. The walls appear to be very rough and faded , and have turned a bleak colour. The floor is covered in light green leaves that complement the walls . It is very clear the main focal point in this photograph is the dainty , scrawny tree growing in the middle of the room. We know this as the viewers eye is drawn straight to it.Although the tree looks fairly fragile , it strongly represents the key theme of Kander's project ; that the natural world however small has a stronger force and impact than man. Also in this image we can see remain of human activity such as the radiator and the light hanging on the ceiling.
|
In this picture there is a large space which looks like a school hall . Possibly it could be used for sport or PE. Or even just a community hall. Regardless of what it was used for it has now been completely ruined. The floor appears to be very dishevelled as there many broken objects laying around on it. Yet again we can see one little tree in the background of the image. From the 3 images I have chosen there has been a recurring pattern of one skinny , dainty tree growing in the room. It is very peculiar that in each image only one tiny tree has grown and survived in these conditions. Consequently , this image and the two others deeply emphasise the idea that nature always defeats man . No matter how big the scale is .
|
APPLIED FORCE
CONCEPT
When certain surfaces and materials are exposed to various types of force there can often be an interesting and striking visual outcomes. To carry out this task I took many different materials that I thought were interesting. I then applied force to them by scrunching , tearing or ripping them. I wanted my images to look unique , in order to this I experimented with other materials and thought of my own ideas . The key idea of this task was to capture interesting photos that made it appear that you weren't just taken pictures of boring plastic bags . The challenge was the make dull materials appear intriguing and unique.
FIRST RESPONSE
SECOND RESPONSE
ARTIST ANALYSIS - FRANCOIS DEFOSSE
Belgian architect Francois Delfosse, captures abstract images of the inside of crumpled up, used plastic bags- trying to recreate images of caves or glaciers in Antarctica. He says that the images were taken in a "glacier cave just North of the South Pole", before adding that they are "viewed from the inside of a plastic bag".
I like this photo because it provides visually interesting shadows and different shapes all over the image. However, it also shows that there is true, incredible beauty pleasing images in literally anything, for example, litter.
|
This is one of my favourite images as it is like a iced tunnel. What makes it so affective and amazing is the fact that the litter or plastic bags go up and around and down again making it look like a cover in a tunnel, especially with the pathway on floor and a slight turn at the end on the right.
|
This image is particularly interesting as the way the litter is layed out and positioned and the way the light is coming through makes it look very realistic. It makes a strong comparison to a igloo perhaps with the crushed litter and how different parts are either crushed, shaped and tall or small.
|
IMPOSING ARCHITECTURE
CONCEPT
I captured a series of photographs from a worms eye view- to make the buildings seem taller and therefore more imposing. I used different angles and perspective to create both a visual and physical impact of the places. They could represent power and strength- to capture the intensity of this I used tall grand buildings, which could effectively portray the dramatic effect.
SECOND RESPONSE
THIRD RESPONSE
FORCE - 3 STRAND RESPONSE
STRAND 1. FORCE OF ATTRACTION - I will be taking picture of people staring at their phones.
- Also I will be photographing people staring at train times at tube and train stations.
STRAND 2. FORCE OF GRAVITY - I will be photographing someone in mid air and photoshop the background making it look as though they are floating higher than gravity allows us to.
STRAND 3. FORCE OF EMOTION - I will be taking pictures of people with tape on their face to demonstrate a sense of repression.
Social Anxiety - I will also take images of people under water to show a sense on being trapped. I will be taking pictures of people with tape on their face to demonstrate a sense of repression.
- Also I will be photographing people staring at train times at tube and train stations.
STRAND 2. FORCE OF GRAVITY - I will be photographing someone in mid air and photoshop the background making it look as though they are floating higher than gravity allows us to.
STRAND 3. FORCE OF EMOTION - I will be taking pictures of people with tape on their face to demonstrate a sense of repression.
Social Anxiety - I will also take images of people under water to show a sense on being trapped. I will be taking pictures of people with tape on their face to demonstrate a sense of repression.