experimentation with narrative in photography
The attempt to construct a narrative within the realms of my photography through experimentation without an overt composed image. Challenging myself to create liminality within the image and convey personal feelings of disassociation. Using longer exposures and movement of the camera to create a ghost image superimposed from multiple angles confusing the time and reality of the scene in the moment I shot it. This way of shooting photography was inspired by the image 'Modern traffic in Ancient Rome' by Italian futurist Mario Bellusi although ideologically opposed to the manifesto in which the futurist movement valued, the development of photodynamism was an influence in my early experiments my photography.
My interest in shooting in darker spaces led me to a focus on Nighttime photography, the subject of which gave better outcomes with my experiments with multiple exposure. The lack of human presence within my nighttime subjects was something I thought would lend to surreal feeling I wished to portray with everyday scenes, a nowhere place between the realms of familiarity. Conveying transitional states and personal feelings of disassociation and displaced emotion. These fabricated places create a narrative of introspection with my use of self portrait to show fragmented and incompleteness with oneself, the dissatisfaction with human relationships and place. The question of a reliance of social dynamics, do we exist in relation to others? Can we be content in full isolation. A prevalent topic that has been debated within contemporary history with the Corona virus pandemic ushering in lockdowns and social exclusion en mass.
FIRE PORTRAITS
This series of photographs centres around the theme of fragility of memory and emotional safe places, continued on from my experimentations with multiple exposures. Taking a trip to Murlough beach; to a place that holds significance to myself. The use of fire both as a source of light and symbolic placeholder within the photographs. Placing importance on emotional burnouts and the naivety within interpersonal relationships, a love letter of lingering sparks and your place within another person's life after the ties with that person have been cut. Reflecting on the impact social bonds have within the view of self and doubt caused by passing current and relationships. Fire as symbolism has been written about within the earliest forms of literature, its ability to nourish and protect yet also cause harm. In the context of Religion fire serves as a manifestation of divinity but also a consuming force. A reflection of memory, the pain of trying to relive the already gone and the search of rebirth within a chapter that has passed. In the work of poet Medbh McGuckian, the poet frequently returns to earlier life phases. In on ballycastle beach suggesting a rebirth of the self and an exchange between past and present selves. The narrative of a transformation of self interests me, calling a criticism within the photographs in the form of self destruction.
Self Portraiture through multiple exposure
This series of self portraits are a testament to the disconnect felt at times from my body, the creation of the self image and the expectations of the female form in regards to sexuality and desire while still maintaining a potential for motherhood. The disruption of choice within the context of both human history and art history in its objectification and disgust in one form or another, manipulating how our form is perceived. The colour palette is comprised of greens and blacks to creates the most impact as inspired by the poster for the film Rosemary's baby, with themes relating to women's liberation, the disposal of choice and the occult. Drawing similarities to female bodily autonomy through the eyes of the male gaze, the photographs create a sickly almost alien effect to the body. The lighting was comprised of two flashlights either held or placed above to create a spotlight to which I could manoeuvre my body in order to get the ghostly, double images.
Artist Research
Italian Futurists
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The invention of photodynalism to capture the blurring of life and art, the movement of modern society and the social function of art according to the Italian futurist ideology, although ideologically opposed to fascism. The works of the futurists are the earliest examples of intentional motion blur as an engagement with the absurd. The techniques often employed by the futurists include layering of multiple negatives, perspectival foreshortening and photomontage. I used superimposition within my photographic works to capture a different form of reality with the practice of the surreal, blurring the lines of time and space in which a photograph can be see and understood.Experimental photography has been a focus of mine during the viewpoints assignment as the creation of an image through curation of both technique and composition presents an unreal masquerade of reality, the in between place that allows me to present ideas and feeling through the use of a camera.
Ana Mendieta
Ana Mendieta, an artist whose life was cut tragically short mirrors her work in death. The evocation of folk tradition and the occult in relation to gender, female sexuality and the harmful effects of male violence are themes that shadow her work. The Silueta series revolving around the body, nature and the spiritual connection of a return to the maternal source, the temporary nature of these works are ritualistic in nature, an imprinting of the female form in nature "through my earth-body sculptures I become one with the earth... I become an extension of nature and nature becomes an extension of my body". The disintegration of these works in their natural state in which they are viewed are not captured within photograph a self erasure of the work by the changing state of nature and the passing of time. Fire within her work presents a ceremonial practice of worship to the form, my use of fire in my work is a reflection of a purification of the form.