Is This a Real Image?

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Primal Urge

Is this a real Image? Well yes, I guess it must be, it's there in front of you. (Ok, I am begging the question, but then it is a poorly phrased question) Is it a literal representation of what was in front of the lens? Well no, I guess not, it is my interpretation of the scene. Although, except for a few lines I added to highlight some edges, nothing has been added that didn't exist in the original photograph.

It was taken at the opening of Luis Martin Harder's exhibition, Unscripted.

My interest lies in exploring the why of things rather than displaying their literal representations. My images relate to a broader discourse and use the medium (captured light) to tell the story rather than just relying on the here is narrative.

I use Photoshop to make the image, but because it is made from only one negative/raw file it requires a particular approach to using the camera to get a file that can accept the manipulation. In fact it requires a different way of looking to find the scenes that will work.

Does this make it less real? Different yes, but only in so much that I am looking at from a different point of view.

New Work

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Gossip

Crossing Borders

Making art that either transcends cultural borders or makes the private public is no easy undertaking. The references specific to a particular place or event can be easily overlooked if not completely missed by those who have not had the first hand experience. Consequently, the artist must rely upon generalities rather than specifics which perforce must translate into the language of art with its roots grounded in the basic elements of line, colour and form.

Two exhibitions currently showing in Makati illustrate dialogues available when presenting work that crosses these borders. Exhibit ‘A’ is “Standing Sticks” at Galleria Duemila where Australian Artist, Tony Twigg, presents a collection of sculptural works, made in Australia, to a Filipino audience. Exhibit ‘B’ is Steve Tirona’s “Will work 4 Food” at the Silverlens gallery where the Los Angeles trained photographer presents the private to the public.

Although founded on iconic Australian references which include the Tiwi Island burial poles, the intricacies of Aboriginal fish traps and the fencing of an often hostile environment these timber constructions speak in the broader terms of form and function and spatial relationships. Each of the “Standing Sticks” works define its space with a delicate balance of the positive and the negative. And in “Expanded Disc-Fish” a third spatial element is included to create a broken eclipse within the defining rectangle.

All of the works are arrangements of vertical multi-facetted timber slats decorated with enamel paint which individually provide a strong attraction. Like tribal skyscrapers the how intrigues as much as the why blurring the architectural discussion of form and function inherent in these individual elements. But stepping back and allowing the artist’s spatial concerns to come into play the individual becomes a part of its community providing a clearer voice. Like “Expanded Disc-Duality”, a 5 segment work that invokes in a rustic formulation, the long forgotten beginnings of an atypical alphabet.

The “Will Work 4 Food” exhibition currently showing at the Silverlens Gallery is a collection of fashionista style snap shots of selected contemporary Filipino artists on the thresholds of their careers circa 2005. A series of portraits and publicity stills that have the do you remember when narrative of a private album. The unframed works ranging in size from 8”x 10” to 36”x 48” are digital prints presented in an eye catching fashion magazine layout. But unlike a magazine there is no accompanying text to provide a context for an uninitiated public.

To cross from private to public or from one cultural ethos to another the language of art is a prerequisite. When line, colour and form interact in a meaningful way then the ideas they inform become intelligible to all. But when a narrowly focused narrative predominates then the works’ potential audience is likewise limited to the tribal associations from whence it came.

“Will Work 4 Food” continues until the 24th of May at The Silverlens Gallery, 2320 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City and “Standing Sticks” is at Galleria Duemila, 210 Loring St, Pasay until 31st of May.

Altered Vision Book One

Pissedpoet Pics guest artist Michael Going whose work can be seen at the guest gallery Going LA has published a book of his work. Titled "Altered Vision Book One" it is an 8x10 in, Hardcover, 64 pages, 52 images with dust jacket published by Blurb.

You can see a preview of the first 15 pages here.
At $49.95 it is pretty good value for money if you are in the USA, if you are outside the US watch out for the shipping costs, they are horrendous.
Perhaps if readers were to contact Blurb at their Suggestions and Feedback page and request they implement a cheaper o/seas distribution we might all become winners.

Cows with Guns

Came across this on you tube, made me smile.

New Work

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Public/Private

'T' Junction

A couple of new works made over the past few days from pics taken at exhibition openings.

I'm for the Birds

A collection of 75 manipulated coloured photographs along with 6 essays about the art and its reason d'etre.
Each of the images in "I'm for the Birds" is made from a single photograph. Once transferred from camera to computer the basic building blocks of the digital structure, the pixel display of the binary code, is identified. Then, various filters are used to enhance the elements of colour, line and form to give it a life of its own. The result is a new image that stands or falls on its own intrinsic aesthetic qualities, more often than not bearing little resemblance to the original narative of the intital photograph. It is a journey in which the image dictates what directions to take; my major contribution is knowing when a destination has been reached.

See inside "I'm for the Birds" here.
Purchase "I'm for the Birds" here.

New Work

Corridor
A new work made a couple of days ago and like all my work made from one image capture.