Write a Statement of Intent that clearly contextualise;
What you want to explore?
My interpretation of Union is how two things are joined or connected together in a type of way, or in other words are united together which form a type of relationship. I am going to explore the theme union through relationships of two things such as a person within their environment or scenario that evokes a type of memory. I want to capture the connection created from this, as it creates something personal and meaningful expressing how it is united together. I want to capture this in a documenting way, showing moments that unfiltered and real.
Cubism relates to this closely, this idea of showing you things for what they truly are, not for what they look like – for example showing you moments through fragmented, disconnected pieces that are pieced back together, expresses how new connections are brought together through multiple perspectives and view points, forming a type of union as subjects are brought together and united. From emphasising the flatness of the picture surface by breaking down the pictures into geometric shapes, results in this fragmented look, which leads you to look deeper as the subject isn’t evidently clear. I want to explore the multi dimensional forms which alters your perspectives, showing you things from different angles revealing the inner life of a subject as its different from what we are used to seeing. This ultimately forms a new reality as you are shown thing in a new way/ perspective. My aim is to explore this through different realistic scenarios that are personal and carry a lot of meaning, for example for each photo shoot I am going to focus on one subject, which is a person (that has some type of relationship to myself eg. a family member or a friend). My focus is femininity and looking at how girls in particular are connected to what they do within their natural environment. For example looking at how they personally fit into society around them through their personal traits. I want to capture unique moments that personally connects to them but also connects and unites them to society – such as applying makeup, doing hair, reading, music…
I want to capture the photographs as clear as possible, showing the viewer a clear insight to someones personal life and how this unites people together. Linking back to Cubism, I want to show things for what they truly are expressing this through different perspectives. This is so that it connects with you in different ways, showing you things differently. I like this idea of taking a perfectly, composed image and distorting it – showing how it can be disconnected and broken up, then fitted back together and it being different yet the same. David Hockney perfectly presents this idea, and I am greatly inspired by his work. Hockney’s method involves piecing together a mosaic of photographs to form a cohesive image that challenges and transcends traditional perspectives. I like this idea of disconnecting / breaking images apart, then reconnecting them which forms a new perspective that challenges your feelings and thoughts towards the photograph.
slightly edting,
adjusting image,
realistic scenes ,
staged
At first when capturing the photographs, to then editing using different techniques such as merging, overlapping, blending, and joining.
Expressionism is ways that the inner world of emotion is expressed rather than external reality, which creates a subjective perspective.
Why it matters to you?
From looking at connections between a person and their environment evokes this new type of reality, which is what i want to explore. This could be different compared to our life or perhaps relate to ours, forming this connection between the viewer and the subject. A person within their natural environment such as their bedroom displays union, as we are shown a personal and private connection. I want to compare this personal connection, to a more public place such as town, or the streets. Capturing people on benches, door arches, windows, to building walls. This creates this new reality as the subject is out of their personal environment which could evoke new emotions and poses which relate to how the person is feeling. Otherwise this displays union in a new way, that is different compared to a personal way.This matters to me because I want to explore the personal connections between people within their environment, as it creates this relatable concept showing you new realities.
When and where you intend to begin your study?
My intentions are to photograph portraits of people displaying different emotion and poses, some which could be disturbing for the viewer while others are more softer and pleasing. I am going to capture people within their bedroom during specific moments as well as portraits , something which is personal to them. I then want to show how the subject is further connected by editing influenced by David Hockney.
Born in 1880, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner studied architecture and painting. Kirchner produced art that drew in the subject matter from studio life with artists, friends and models to the streets and nightclub life of the city to the summer trips and beaches.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is a German painter and printmaker who was part of expressionist group of artists called ‘Die Brucke’ (‘The Bridge’). June 1905 Die Brucke group was established, also was recognised as the birth of expressionism. Four architecture students came together in Dresden to form the group; Ernist Ludwig Kirchner, Erich Heckel, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Fritz Bleyl. Without an prior artistic training they came together as a group and quickly became a huge art movement. Within this the artists produced a much more simplified or distorted form which complemented the unusually strong, unnatural colours that provoked an emotional response.
Expressionism meaning:
‘The artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality.’
Die Brucke was German based – in Berlin, 1905-1913. The name indicates the influences on their work, with their art viewed as ‘the bridge’ between the past, present and future. The theme centered around social life – bourgeois lifestyle which means belonging to or characteristic of middle class which is perceived as having materialistic attitudes. We typically associate this with portraits and self portraits.
Tilted Program, Kirchner
Above is the Groups first manifesto Tilted Program, Kirchner wrote ‘We call all young people together, and as young people, who carry the future in us, we want to wrest freedom for our actions and our lives from the older, comfortably established forces’. This explains how they were particularly drawn to the marginalised or lonely individuals on the fringes of urban society, with an aim of capturing tortured pain and anguish brought about by modern life. This idea of zoning into someone’s life, that surrounds them creates this type of new reality as we are shown an insight into someone’s life. Or otherwise expresses union as we are presented with a connection between two people.
The artists produced paintings, printmaking and sculpture, expressed through free brushwork of simple, heightened colour and jagged, elongated forms. Firstly influenced by post-impressionist painters such as Vincent Van Gogh to the vivid, colours and expressive techniques of French fauvists. However Die Brucke’s style was far more aggressive, meaningless (shown through life), and uncontrolling – this was expressed by the inharmonious colours, harsh, jagged outlines or deliberate crude or ugly forms. The movement began when European cities underwent periods of rapid development and urbanisation, resulting in the people feeling alienated and lost. Many of these artists were looking for an art that could express intense emotional responses which fitted into impressionist art collections. This is expressed through the distinct brushstrokes of colour which formulate the overall painting, creating this dramatic, expressive image.
Ultimately, Die Brucke artists intentions was to reveal the inner truth – which means revealing the inner soul of humans even if it was shocking, uncomfortable or confronting for the viewer. This particular theme was carried on throughout Kirchner’s work as we are presented with very emotional, figurative art work. The subjects are presented in ways that reveals a type of expressive emotion which is noticeable straight away as the upfront portraits of the subject reveals this dramatic emotion. Specifically the first three painting below, they give this sense of loneliness as each one gives us a new emotion. From a girl lying on a bed that looks tured and worn out, to a girl sat leaning away from her cat with empty and half drank bottles, to then a girl perched on a seat with someone standing in front. The frozen scene we are presented with, expresses a very realistic, unfiltered snapshot of someone’s life, as raw emotions are revealed which aren’t hidden away which perhaps creates this connection as we could relate. Bold pigmented, block colours are used which I think enhances the painting even further as it the scene is easily described to us, we don’t have to look for it. Otherwise shapes, patterns and lines are brought out through this which helps to clearly define each hidden shadow and feature in a simple form. I think this is a really interesting effect as not much is added to express detail and emotion, as we are presented this through very simple formations and compositions.
The photograph displays an upward diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right. From this angle we are brought to unusual perspectives that brings the observer to a position which is superior to the model. The high angle shot alters your perspective of the photo, as we are looking down onto the subject. This makes the subject appear smaller with the surroundings appearing more vast – meaning that what surrounds the subject is evidently more clear, shifting our view and attention onto the smaller objects that surrounds the subject, which communicates a relationship to the subject. The details within this widens our perspective as we wouldn’t typically notice this straight away as our attention is automatically drawn to the main subject of the person. However the composition is more softer to the eye, as there is a harmony of colour, marked by soft predominantly green colour fields, brought together by contrasting lines and patterns which give a contoured /broken up shadow effect.
The photograph is of a girl, lying on a sofa, with a cat to her lower right and open/ empty glass bottles to her upper left – where she is facing. She is displaying a worries or anxious emotion. This communicates something quite personal, as it is obvious she is going through something and the viewer is almost ‘invading’ her personal environment. I find this concept really interesting as we are presented with a view that is up close and personal, which reveals a slight insight to her life as we are shown a lot in her personal life. This style of environmental portraits is what I am going to further experiment with, as the the emotional concept formed by the person who is in their natural environment such as their bedroom creates unique and personal relationships and connections, otherwise uniting two things together forming a close relationship which could be one that we can relate with or one that we can’t.
David Hockney is an English painter, print-maker and photographer. He is considered one of the most influential artists in the 20th and 21st century as he was a huge part of the Pop Art movement in the 1960’s. Hockney was best know for his paintings of swimming pools and portraits of family and friends where most of which was made when he lived in California. His style ranges from painting, drawing and printmaking to video, photography and stage design. In 2004 Hockney returned to England, where he began living in Yorkshire. Quickly becoming fascinated by the Northern Countryside and seasonal change he created a series of landscape paintings which consisted of using different mediums such as charcoal, oil paint, water colour and digital sketches.
A Bigger Splash 1967
Hockney was greatly inspired by Vincent Van Gough – who was an Impressionist Painter, where he used similar techniques and styles. They were both greatly influenced by Nature, describing it to be like finding endless joy and inspiration.
Impressionism
Developed in France during 19th century, an ‘on the spot’ style was created. Subjects included everyday life and landscapes. It wasn’t a depiction of real life, instead it was an ‘impression’ of what the person, light, atmosphere, object or landscape looked like to them.
‘Endless subjects are found in nature,’
~David Hockney
In photogrpahy you arent really looking comapred to painting
Painting allowed Hockney to express strokes of colour which were highlights and shapes that go unnoticed. This idea when you paint one stroke your looking and noticing the other stokes of colours, meaning that you are always seeing more which creates this ‘exiting feel’ stated by Hockney.
Photography – Joiners
During the early 80’s Hockney began experimenting a new technique called photo joiners, which created a new way of visualising photographs. With his interest in optics, which was a scientific study of light, – transmission and deflection, he expressed this further in this technique, experimenting with familiar subjects family, friends, landscapes and interiors. The images create different yet engaging compositions which never fail to draw you in. This method is like a mosaic pattern, piecing together the photograph to form a cohesive, whole image. This reveals various perspectives of the photograph. The fragmented pieces alters you perspective of the subject, ‘Hockney’s joiners disrupt conventional viewpoints, inviting a different exploration into the intricacies of perception and representation.’ This idea that each photograph represented something different, firstly from its unique name to the expressive, broken up layout, which perhaps represents the narrative of photograph. Having explored different types of layouts, it closley reminded me of piecing a puzzle together, where you have the missing pieces which could be the most important or the least important.
Hockney’s Visual style greatly interests me as it opens up your interpretation of his work meaning that it can be percived differently for different people. For some layouts I noticed some pieces were missing, or arranged in a particular which was how Hockney wanted you to see the image, which perhaps reflected the story in the image. This unusual yet very attractive style is what I want to experiment with further – This idea of missing parts that are fragmented/ slightly edited and adjusted that don’t fit perfectly together, opens up your interpretation of what the message or narrative is truly telling you:
Raymond Foye Looking At BrooklynDavid Hockney
Canal And Road, Kyoto David Hockney
At the early stages of Hockney’s joiners during 1980, he was dissatisfied by the current photographs presented to him, expressing them to be limited and confined to a single perspective. From this, Hockney was inspired to experiment with new ways of capturing the importance of ‘time’ and space’ in a way that closely reflected human vision and experience.
Hockney’s joiners transitioned through various styles from moments of people within environments to landscapes. However the landscapes reveal much more as they express a type of reality that is unknown or perhaps aren’t used to.
Inspirations for the Joiners:
Hockney’s Initial inspirations came from the way we perceive the world around us – not a frozen, single moment but as a complex, amalgamation of views, perspectives and moments. Hockney thought a typical photograph only expressed a limited, static view of a subject, which is what lead to Hockney’s joiners style as this represented multiple perceptions of the way we see things. This expresses the theme of union differently to what we would normally perceive it to be. A new way in which the photograph is distorted and fragmented, broken up into pieces that are never the same as before which show how they unite back together as neither is the same.
David and Anne on the Subway, N.Y. Nov 28
Gregory Reading In Kyoto
An evening at Christopher’s, Santa Monica
This process involved Hockney taking numerous photographs from different angles and perspectives, each focusing on various details of the scene. Then piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle but without intending to blend them back into a traditional/ original photograph. This creates an interesting, in-depth feature as the photo is broken up creating a fragmented, distorted look, but is pieced back together – expressing imperfection. Hockney embraces this imperfection, through the overlapping and disjointed edges of images which shifts your perspective and scale. This method highlights, giving contrast between time and viewpoint all within the same space, which changes your perspective, making you see the subject in a new way.
Composition. Colour. Perspective.
Composition, colour and perspective are three very important elements of Hockney’s photographic joiners. Each one expressed a different type of movement, whether that is visually or how we perceive a feature. These features are what guides the viewers eye through the image expressing narrative and movement. I like how it isn’t obvious what the subject is, instead your eyes are gradually lead to it through the fragmented, imperfect pieces.
The pieces create a non- linear sequence meaning that the placement of each image isn’t ordered in straight lines, instead it is disjointed and broken lines- which reflects they way our eyes move across the scene, rather than from a single glance.
Colour harmonises the overall composition or draws attention to specific areas- which is used to create mood, depth, and emphasis.
Perspective is the most dramatic change expressed throughout the photo, as your eyes are constantly changing with the direction, the images are distorted. Photographs are taken from multiple viewpoints, then re-constructed expressing multifaced and angled images which is different traditional and Hockney’s original single-viewpoint images. Therefore this offers a more holistic and immersive experience of space and time.
Non- linear Narratives
‘I was always aware that cameras do push you away, I was trying to pull you in.’
~ David Hockney
Hockney’s style became quickly influenced by Cubism. This idea that multiple perspectives are brought together, overall producing this a-symmetrical imperfect photograph. Whilst this also produces a narrative through a non-linear sequence. The movement that is produced through expressed the scene.
The photogrpah is shot in a subway car, so it is underground meaning the only light source is coming from light in the tube and lights on phones. This creates a warm effect as the light is reflecting off the warmer tones of what people are wearing, signage/graffiti, seats and walls. This then leaves the dark tones to form shadows and contrast, as it blends into the background which leads us down the train – into the distance – the middle of the photo.
The contrasting features creates texture, as the uneven forms of patterns lines and shapes are expressed.
Contextual
David and Anne on the subway depicts the inside of one of New York’s iconic subway cars. Hockney mimics the spherical perspective of the human eye, layering the photographs over one another, which creates an in-depth view of the passengers and details of the train Hockney is traveling in. His reference photographs used for his early painting work, frustrated him, as they didn’t present life in the way a drawing or painting did. So Hockney moved from the ‘static,’ ‘lifeless’ and ‘frozen moments,’ brought from single viewpoints, to piecing them together which produce multiple perspectives. This is effective because the disjointed, un-smooth, overlapping pieces mimic’s the train rattling through the tunnels, and the abrupt swaying of those within it. I find this feature really effective – as it enhances the visual aspects of the photograph, creating unique movement and bringing a unique form of depth,- this is expressed through the same way for the actual image. As the photo of the image isn’t obvious straight away as we are initially distracted by the fragmented, disjointed yet reconnected parts that are pieced back together.
The vibrant yet warm tones of colour are enhanced and brought to life through the overlapping as new compositions, shapes, patterns, lines and texture is revealed, creating unique leading lines. This itself creates a much more interesting image, as new features are being revealed all the time showing off different effects. Upon this, shadows are emphasised from the subjects as well as the surroundings – the invisible details within the train such as the edges, backgrounds, textures of patterns and signs/ symbols. So through this effect of joiners the disjointed images moves the shadow around, breaking it up, and forming new shadows in places. This connects us in different ways which draws us in creating depth as the leading lines created from this leads you in closer.
Show how each person is different, expressed through their behavior, characteristics and features. This could be how they dress, their style, presentation compared to their social interactions with one another.
Explore the features or moments that make people unique. How they express themselves through their emotions shown through bold make up and expressions being captured by a camera. This will reveal this unfiltered, imperfect look that people express showing you their true reality. Then how people are brought together again socially.
Create Montages of of people, posing in different ways then merging them together which will create this montage of emotions that reflect their reality.
People and their Place:
Capture two photos then edit them together- placing on top of each other. This shows the unique relationship someone has with their environment as two sides of their life is revealed. This shows union as they unite and connect together through different sides of their life for example; a hobby, memory, particular place, or a relationship with another person.
Streets alone to nights out:
Looking at the environment within the streets and people social interactions their behaviours – perhaps expressed through their emotions and feelings to the streets for example graffiti / street art. Looking at street wear, styles of people, how they dress to then their behaviours and characteristics. Documenting the process / leading up to the streets at night, like getting ready, makeup, to the night out – social interactions and how people are united.
‘Joined together politically, for a common purpose, or by common feelings.’
Cubism
Cubism is an early 20th century art movement, particularly expressed in paintings and was the starting point for many abstract styles. Perspective was key, from starting with a single viewpoint to then experimenting with simple geometric shapes, interlocking planes and collage. Invented by Pablo Picasso and George Braque’s, they brought different views of a subject together which resulted in paintings to appear fragmented and abstract. This idea of breaking photos apart to creating different fragmented pieces, then re-joining them together was aimed to show different viewpoints which gives a sense of three-dimensional from. The different viewpoints shown through the fragmented yet abstract art creates a type of union. Each section is joined together in geometric forms, with little use of colour. This alters reality as your expressed with new emotions and feelings found within the new format of the image.
Inspirations & Mood-Board
Pablo Picasso: Focus on portraits, broken up image to create fragmented, new reality.
George Braques: Scenario or moments captured, distorted – we don’t know straight away what is being shown, makes you look closer showing you a different reality.
Jean Metzinger: Loose blocks of colour fitted together creating a loose effect. Similar effect to cubist style yet colours are arranged in an orderly way of a geometric pattern that aren’t loose strokes of colour.
‘Reducing everything to geometric outlines, to cubes’.
~Louis Vauxcelles commented on George Braque’s paintings.
Other Inspirations:
Cubists aim was to show you things for what they truly are , not what they look like. They did this by emphasising the flatness of the picture surface by breaking down pictures into geometric shapes resulting in this fragmented look. By placing things in multi dimensional forms alters your perspective, showing you things from different angles which ultimately reveals this inner-life of a subject as its different from what we are used to seeing. Exploring ‘form’ and ‘space’ further emphasises this concept of how things on a two-dimensional canvas were highlighted compared to the three-dimensional effect of the distorted image, which further creates a sense of reality as a perspective we are not used to is expressed.
‘Cubism is a revolutionary new approach to representing reality’
In response, by capturing people I know/ have a relation with in particular environments or scenarios/ moments, then capturing multiple diverse angles, which reveals different perspectives will reveal this new reality, shown through an abstract, direct approach. When capturing photographs; portraits, landscapes, people in environments or objects, instead of one singular snapshot, I would take lots from multiple angles (zooming in on areas to create depth) which will show you different perspectives of the subject. Further editing using Photoshop to collage/ fit the images together which will create this illusion of images as it isn’t a perfect or clear photograph, instead areas are fragmented and distorted in ways which alters you perspective on things and change your reality of what you are shown.
Initial Ideas:
Landscape – Merging two images together, experimenting with contrasting colour or black and white.
Final Photobook – Sections, broken up pages which lead up to the ‘final reality,’ This will create an interesting, engaging fragmented effect which will lead up to the main image, altering your perspective showing you new realities.
Fragmented, join effect – experiment with different layouts – overlapping, merging, perfectly aligned – David Hockney
David Hockney: Distorted images pieced back together
I like how the simple names perfectly describe the scene and environment.
David And Ann On The Subway, N.Y., Nov. 28
My Mother, Los Angeles, Dec
Christopher Isherwood Talking To Bob Holman
Expressionism
Expressionism is a modernist movement, or style of painting or poetry originating from Northern Europe in the beginning of the 20th century. The artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality, creating a subjective perspective. Using loose strokes and expressive marks of colour fit together expressing a mix of emotions leading to evoking types of moods and ideas that the artist is feeling. The typical portraits and landscapes we see are transformed into an illusion of colour of dramatic expressions which imitate the artists inner feelings and emotions. This shows the artists own reality and how they percieve certain situations compared to how we look at them. Except their reality is expressed more clearly as their feelings are expressed through the expressive marks and layers of colour used. Compared to cubism different views are brought to the photograph as they are fragmented and distorted, then placed back together. This opens up our interpretation of the particular image as the artists reality is not obvious straight away, it is only evident when you look deeper and closer you see the full picture (reality).
We are straight away drawn to the colourful, exressive, loose marks of colour that are formed together creating a very picturesque, aesthetic image. This instantly lures you in, noticing texture which is a symbol of the artists feelings and mood which therefore evokes feelings and emotions within ourselves as viewers. For myself, the lines and curves of marks expressed by the individual strokes of colour, epxresses emotive feelings of being surprised and amused as new forms are constantly being revealed to us as we figure out the artists type of reality. Perhaps the the warmer tones of colour eg, yellow, orange, pink, red or pale colours signify happiness as they evoke positive emotions compared to the cooler tones of deep blue, navy, green and dark red. This also sets the type of scene the image is portraying whether it is a message or story and if it’s either positive or negative. Each feature is united, as they complement one another, expressing types of contrasting emotions expressed through the particular story of the image.
Photo shoot ideas:
Landscape, – seascape (different times), villages including people.
Portraits
People together in an environment – people I know mixing with strangers.
Unfiltered
Unusual perspectives of people where they are unaware of camera – eg, conversation, getting ready to go out
Artists:
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Expressionistic style, defines materialistic values with conventional attitudes of people. Shows unfiltered and filtered ways of how people are united.
