Artist Blog: Tim Walker

After years of studying photography in his native London, and then in New York City (as Richard Avedon's full time assistant), Tim Walker received the Independent Young Photographer of the Year award and his career took off.

Tim Walker is primarily a fashion or editorial photographer, but his carefully staged images always present a certain amount of escapism.

Eglingham Children and Swan on Beach, Tim Walker, Northumberland, England, 2002. size unknown.

http://www.timwalkerphotography.com/

Tim Walker and I seem to have some similarities - at least in terms of inspiration. He admits that he enjoys turning "funny daydreams into funny photographs" and that he lives in "an imaginary world" most of the time. These made up places are mixed with memories of his childhood in the British countryside.

With his grand and intricate sets, Tim Walker captures a narrative absent of time. His profound connections linking a surreal world with the every day is an enormous inspiration for me, and I work to match his imaginative and technically sound images.

Eglingham Stream, Tim Walker, Northumberland, England 2004. size unknown.

http://www.timwalkerphotography.com/

Shonas Tree, St Pancras Wallpainting, Tim Walker, London, England, 2001. size unknown.

http://www.timwalkerphotography.com/

http://www.timwalkerphotography.com

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/3364904/Tim-Walker-adventures-in-wonderland.html

Artist Lecture #1: Alec Soth

Tonight Alec Soth came to speak at VCU. He was born in Minnesota, and if you look him up Wikipedia you can read about all of the awards he has won (and that's about it).

Before he took to the stage, Soth ran a short film of his friend Lee Friedlander (?) on a road trip taking pictures. This was not only confusing (it had no introduction), but it was unentertaining. Our audience of students and faculty continued to talk to each other, not turning our focus to his weird inside joke of an intro until a few minutes in. It also had short pseudo-broadcast messages from the 50's or 60's, which were absolutely pointless.

After his intro finished playing, he introduced himself and talked a little about his work and explained that the reason he wanted to show the film was to emphasize the adventures that one can have with the world and their camera (barf). He admitted that his love of photography comes from the wonder, intimacy and honesty that comes with it - which I thought was kind of silly because traditionally, photography is so often very deceitful.

To briefly summarize what I took from Alec Soth's lecture, I'll say I think he strives to use this available medium of photography and make it his own - but ultimately ends up taking commercially and accessibly successful images. It was an interesting, blatant contradiction.

Soth also included quotes from some of his favorite photographers, like Robert Frank and William Eggleston. He took a lot of these quotes and combined parts of them to make his own, ridiculous titles for his 'concept' (including: "A Paralyzed Cyclops in the Democratic Jungle", and "The Narrative Machete".) I appreciate his love for other photographers and how they inform his work, but I also believe that he relied on their well-known photographic styles a little to heavily.

The series of work that he presented were: "Moving Through Space, Connecting the Dots", which was mainly about the fragmented narrative aspect of photography and how viewers must connect the dots and fill in the blanks.

Soth's simple "longing to drive and capture" was enough for him to spend five years shooting and documenting along the Mississippi River. "Sleeping by the Mississippi" gained critical acclaim while exhibited in the Whitney Museum of American Art. He said the River is about wandering, traveling through and learning the different ways you can live your life. He started making books of this work and soon it was published and exhibited.

I think he should take up filmmaking and make "Journey Films" similar to Ingmar Bergman.

Fontaine Bleu (Niagra), Alec Soth, New York, 2005. 50 x 40 inches. http://www.gagosian.com/artists/alec-soth

Peter's Houseboat (Sleeping by the Mississippi), Alec Soth, Winona, MN, 2002. size unknown.

http://www.alecsoth.com

Civic Fest (Presidential Office) (The Last Days of W), Alec Soth, Minneapolis, MN, 2008. 24 x 30 inches. http://www.gagosian.com/artists/alec-soth

http://www.alecsoth.com

Artist Blog: Banksy

As we move into our second semester of Senior Portfolio, I want to look into artists who explore their own means of escaping, whether it be relevant to my concept of escapism sought through alternative worlds or even simply escaping from something.

Just to recap, my (always being revised) concept is Escapism, specifically through different worlds, providing a release from reality and a means of creativity.

Banksy, a British stencil graffiti artist (although he does not call himself an artist - too bad, we're all artists), is widely known for his art form, often illustrating his alternative political viewpoints and incorporating humor in his murals. The locations that Banksy chooses for his work are key to the success of his messages and metaphors. His real name has not been released and he stays out of the public eye to avoid the obvious punishments for "vandalism".

There are so many people who appreciate his work, believing that the aesthetic quality itself betters the urban city atmosphere and that much of his work communicates views often hard to express in those areas. Of course, with the controversy medium that he uses, there are others who dislike his work, thinking of it as simple vandalism, or complaining that his political beliefs are not shared by all those who are living in those areas he graffitis.

Escapism, Banksy, 2005, size unknown

The series of nine images that Banksy created on Israel's West Bank barrier is the work that most relates to my concept and the ideas I'm formulating for this semester.

Unwelcome Intervention, Banksy, 2005, size unknown

Cut it Out, Banksy, 2005, size unknown

He made these images in commentary on what is becoming world’s largest man-made human barrier (between Israel and Palestine). By reclaiming this controversial space, he creates a canvas for vision and enlightenment, which I'm sure he hopes will spark a little open-mindedness.

Balloon Debate, Banksy, 2005, size unknown

I'm not sure if Banksy assigned these titles or not, but these were the only titles I could find for these images (found from the yourworldtoday.ca).

On his website, Banksy says that while there, an old Palestinian man said his painting made the wall look beautiful. After Banksy said thank you, the man replied 'We don't want it to be beautiful, we hate this wall. Go home.'

Photos and Info:

http://www.banksy.co.uk/

http://www.briansewell.com/artist/b-artist/banksy/banksy-palestinian-tag.html
http://www.yourworldtoday.ca/2007/12/08/british-graffiti-on-west-bank-barrier/