These are some of my other edits of images I took during my photoshoot in response to Mandy Barker.
1:
Before and after:
For this image I wanted to capture the writing about recycling as that links to my project and the idea of anthropocene. I wanted to take the photo off centre to create an interesting composition and to allow to space as the red lid is quite bright so it needs space to make it not too intense.
2:
I took this image close up to the rubbish (crisp packets). I wanted to take a close up image as it causes the focus to be in the viewers face. I made it slightly brighter and more colourful as I found the original one to be quite dull.
3:
For this image I used a similar idea to the last when taking it close up. I also edited it in the same way as the last image.
For my first photoshoot I have taken images based on the photographer Mandy Barker. To take these photos I asked family members to collect their plastic waste, this is to show just how much plastic people go through in a short amount of time. This links to the theme of union as it shows how people have a negative effect on the world through using plastic. I took images of mainly crisp packets, bottle caps, and plastic bottles.
Contact sheets:
Best images:
I like this shot as I like how part of the receipt is blurred and the other part isnt. I also like the composition of the image with the receipt going through the center of the image and leaving not much negative space.
Experimental shots:
During my photoshoot I decided to try experiment with using a torch and a bottle cap underneath a plastic water bottle in a dark space. I then photographed through the water bottle and ended up with these images which almost look like galaxies in their own way with the lines of purple light. It also shows how you can use something negative like plastic wastage to create a beautiful vibrant image.
Evaluation
Overall I am happy with how my images in response to Mandy Barker have turned out. Next I will be editing them and preparing to use them to create collages like Barker does.
For my exam project I want to explore cubism, specifically collages. To do this I am going to explore the photographer Mandy Barker, who I have previously done research on. Barker photographs found litter and objects and then combines them on large pieces. She does this to create beautiful pieces to capture the viewer’s attention so that they look closer to see that it is all litter, allowing them to come face to face with the ugly truth around littering.
Littering has a negative effect on wildlife on our planet, it is an example of anthropocene. This is why it matters to me as animals deserve to live in litter-free environments rather than suffering just because someone decided to litter rather than use a bin. I wish to develop my project by photographing many found objects, similar to Mandy Barker, and I will then combine these. I plan to find a second photographer who photographs objects in an interesting way, I will then photograph these objects again in this certain way. I intend to start my study by going onto beaches and parks to find pieces of litter to photograph, as these are places which people tend to litter.
During my Personal study I would also like to focus on the idea of over consumption and consumerism as I feel it links to the idea of Anthropocene and Mandy Barker. As these factors also link to the idea of how people have a negative impact on the world, linking to anthropocene. To do this I will also study the photographer Philippe Gerlach, who photographs people in many layers of clothing in his series ‘How much more do you need?’.
Gerlach’s involvement in “How Much More Would You Need?” aligns with his broader interest in the complexities and contradictions of consumer culture. This particular work was featured in Glamcult, a well-regarded platform and publication that often focuses on modern day fashion, art, and culture. In this work, Gerlach examines the idea of overconsumption in the context of beauty, luxury, and fashion. The title “How Much More Would You Need?” directly challenges the viewer to question their relationship with products, particularly beauty products and clothing. It’s directed at the desire to always have more even when you may not need it. This desire can be fed by social media as you see that others have a product it causes you to feel as if you also need it. The phrase invites us to reflect on how much we truly need versus how much we are encouraged to have. The series focuses heavily on makeup, fashion, and other consumer goods, often presenting them in a manner that seems to amplify their power. Through this approach, Gerlach critiques the way that these products are marketed to us — as symbols of status, identity, or even self-worth, this is done largely through social media. His photographs may look glamorous and glossy on the surface, but there’s an underlying meaning about the emptiness of this constant consumption. His work in Glamcult invites the viewer to reflect on the addictive cycle of desire that consumer culture holds, encouraging a deeper questioning of why we consume and how much we actually need. The images from this series could be seen as an exploration of how brands and the media manipulate us with promises of fulfillment through consumption, while, at the same time, never truly satisfying the consumer. By engaging with the subject of overconsumption through the lens of high-end fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products, Gerlach’s work becomes a pointed and visually compelling critique of the modern world we live in, where more is often seen as better, but rarely fulfills deeper emotional or spiritual needs.
Image analysis
In this image the model is wearing multiple items of clothing. All of which as stacked in a way which causes the image to look bulky and very busy. It shows how people own too much items due to overconsumption and a main contribution to this is social media. The background of the image is blurry which makes the model the centre of attention.
How will I respond?
In my response to Philippe Gerlach I will photograph either myself or a family member wearing multiple layers of clothing such as jackets or hats. This will link the the idea of overconsumption and show how much stuff people own and make them question whether they really need it all. I will then use these images to create a magazine, similar to the glamcult magazine. It will include products, as well as fashion. However these products will be presented in a way which will make the viewer question the amount of products one person needs, in the same way Philippe Gerlach has photographed his images.
Mandy Barker is a British contemporary artist whose work is primarily focused on environmental issues, particularly marine pollution and the impact of human activity on the oceans. She uses photography to capture and transform the visual qualities of marine debris, creating powerful, thought-provoking works that bring attention to the crisis of ocean pollution. Her work often consists of large-scale, meticulously arranged photographs of items like plastic waste, fishing gear, and other waste which she collects herself from various beaches and oceans across the world.
Barker’s artistic practice blends a deep concern for the environment with an aesthetic sensibility that has a strong connection to abstract art. One of the key features of her work is her ability to take the debris, which might otherwise be overlooked or discarded, and reframe it into something visually striking, sometimes resembling intricate patterns or geometric forms. Barkers method shares similarities with Cubism, particularly in how the subject matter is deconstructed and then reassembled to create a new meaning. Cubism, as pioneered by artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, revolutionized the art world by breaking down objects into fragmented, abstracted forms and representing them from multiple viewpoints. This technique emphasized structure and geometry, highlighting the relationship between space, form, and perception.
In a similar way, Mandy Barker’s compositions take seemingly chaotic, discarded objects and arrange them in a way that presents a new kind of order, transforming them into complex, almost geometric patterns. In some of her series, such as “Seas of Shame” or “Beyond Drifting”, the discarded plastic and debris are intentionally arranged in flat, circular or grid-like forms. The juxtaposition of these debris items creates a kind of visual abstraction, where the viewer is encouraged to see the everyday, the discarded, and the neglected in a new, more intentional light.
Barker’s ability to arrange the debris in such a way that it appears abstract and geometric also links to Cubism as it shows the deconstruction and reassembly of form to create a new unique form. The objects, though once part of the natural world, are now transformed into art that comments on both human impact and the debris of modern life, just as Cubism redefined how we view the world and objects within it.
Soup (2013)
Mandy Barker’s “Soup” (2013) is a powerful photographic series that tackles the issue of marine pollution, specifically focusing on plastic waste in the ocean. The title “Soup” is a reference to the growing, pervasive “plastic soup” floating in the world’s oceans, a term used to describe the accumulation of plastic debris that floats and breaks down into smaller pieces in the water. This series emphasizes the shocking scale and complexity of ocean pollution, where plastic items such as bottle caps, create a visual representation of waste that is not only disturbing but also beautiful in its abstract composition, a way to catch the viewers attention.
Analysis
This piece by Mandy Barker is made up of many balls which she found discarded on beaches across the world. All of which are different colours which captures the viewers attention. The way Barker has intentionally arranged each of her images beautifully to create the look of a galaxy also captures the viewers attention and causes them to look closer and see the meaning of the image which is not so beautiful. This unique composition makes the image stand out from normal photography it almost makes the image look like it is moving. Barker has created both depth and movement with her clever placement of the images. Placing her photos against a black background also makes it stand out more and adds to the look of a galaxy. This piece could also resemble a school of fish swimming, as this also links to her whole theme of the ocean. It could show that if we carry on littering and having little care for what we put in the ocean instead of it being home for fish it will be the home for plastic.
How will I respond?
I like Mandy Barkers work as it is eye-pleasing and I also like her meaning and reason behind it all. I am going to use Barkers unique method and technique to photograph plastic wastage which I will ask my family to keep hold of for me. This will show just how much plastic people go through in short amounts of time. I will then use these images to create collages like Barker’s soup series.
Cubism is an artistic movement lead by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Cubism focuses on geometric shapes being used to depict humans and other forms. Overtime the geometric aspects became so intense that they sometimes overtook the represented forms, creating a more pure level of visual abstraction. Though the movements prime era was in the early 20th century, the ideas and techniques have continued to grow and are used to inspire works created today.
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor, and is well known for his involvement in the Cubism movement. Picasso is seen as one of the most influential artists in the 20th century, with his ability to produce works in a wide-range of styles made him well respected within his lifetime. After his death his value as an artist and inspiration to other artists has only grown. Picasso is without a doubt going to be referred to as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Picasso’s most famous painting is Guernica, a large 1937 oil painting. It is regarded as one of his best-known works. Art critics have described it as the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history.
Georges Braque
Georges Braque (1882-1963) was a major French painter. He is mainly known for working alongside Picasso to create the cubist movement. Braque was not only a painter but he also created collages. Braque’s cubism pieces were based off of landscapes, These paintings were scenes which were distilled into basic shapes and colours and they inspired the French art critic Louis Vauxcelles to coin the term cubism, by describing Braque’s work as “Bizarreries cubiques”.
Houses at l’Estaque is an oil-on-canvas painting by Braque executed in 1908. It is though to be a highly important Photo-cubist landscape, it may even be the first one.
The First Era Of Cubism
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque first met in 1905, but it wasn’t until 1907 that Picasso showed Braque what is considered the first Cubist painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. This portrait depicts five women and draws heavy influence from African tribal art, which Picasso had recently been exposed to at the Palais du Trocadéro, a Paris ethnographic museum.
This piece went against every rule of tradition Western painting and was a huge leap from his previous blue and pin periods, which were far more representational and emotional. Due to this Picasso was hesitant to display this work to the public and it went unseen until 1916.
Braque, who painted in the Fauvist movement, was both repelled and intrigued by the painting. Picasso worked with him privately on the implications of the piece, developing together the Cubist form. Braque is the only artist to ever collaborate with Picasso, and over a period of two years, they spent every evening together, with neither artist pronouncing a finished work until agreed on by the other.
Braque’s response to Picasso’s initial work was his 1908 painting Large Nude, noted for incorporating the techniques of Paul Cézanne as an influence. This painting kickstarted the first era of Cubism, known as Analytical Cubism, which was defined by depictions of a subject from multiple points of view at once, creating a fractured, multi-dimensional effect expressed through a limited palette of colors.
The term Cubism was first used by French critic Louis Vauxcelles in 1908 to describe Braque’s landscape paintings. Painter Henri Matisse had previously described them to Vauxcelles as looking comprised of cubes. The term wasn’t widely used until the press adopted it to describe the style in 1911.
In 1909, Picasso and Braque decided to move their focus from humans to objects to keep Cubism fresh, starting with Braque’s Violin and Palette.
Others Join the Cubist Movement
As the movement grew wider in popularity others joined in. Polish artist Louis Marcossis discovered Braque’s work during 1910, and his Cubist paintings are considered to have more of a human quality and lighter touch compared to other cubist painters work.
Spanish artist Juan Gris remained on the fringes of the movement until 1911. He distinguished himself by refusing to make the abstraction of the object more essential than the object itself. Cubism represents a significant proportion of his life’s work as he died during 1927.
The second era of Cubism
By 1912, Picasso and Braque had begun to incorporate words in their paintings, this evolved into collage which dominated the second era of cubism, this era was known as Synthetic Cubism. This phase also included flattening the subjects and brightening the colours.
Braque further experimented with collage, this led to his creation of the papier colle technique. This technique can be seen in Braques 1912 Fruit dish and Glass, a concoction of wallpaper placed within te gouache. The introduction of collage broadened the form’s colour palette further.
Sculptors also explored Cubist forms. For example the Russian artist Alexander Archipenko first publicly showed his pieces during 1910.
Orphic Cubism
Orphic cubism was an offshoot movement formed in 1913 by French painter Jacques Villon and his brother, sculptor Raymond Duchamp-Villon, this branch embraced even brighter hues and augmented abstraction.
Robert Delaunay is considered a primary representation of this wing, sharing similar architectural interests as Leger, which can be seen multiple times in his cubist depiction of the Eiffel Tower along with other notable Parisian structures.
Cubism: World war I and beyond
Cubism was effectively halted by world war I as a number of artists including Braque, Lhote, de la Fresnaye and Legar, got called up for duty. De la Fresnaye was discharged during 1917 due to tuberculosis however he never fully recovered, he attempted to continue making art but died during 1925.
By 1917, Picasso returned to his practice of injecting more realism into his paintings, though his refusal to be pinned down to one type of art meant that Cubism reappeared in some works over the years, such as The Three Musicians (1921) and The Weeping Woman (1937), a response to the Spanish civil war.
Cubist Influence
Although Cubism never regained its place as an organised force within the art world, it influenced future art movements such as Futurism and Abstract Expressionism. Cubism also influenced other forms such as literature, music, photography, film, and graphic design.
How will cubism influence my project?
I will be studying the photographer Mandy Barker, who creates collages by combining photos of litter which she has found from beaches across the world. This links to cubism as it is the idea of combining different things to create a new thing, a collage.
For the theme of union, I first thought of things such as relationships and friendships, however after doing research I may focus on one of the isms. I may also look at things like collages and the union of different objects creating a new piece. To get a deeper understanding of the word ‘union’, I have created a list of all similar words, this will hopefully also inspire new ideas.
Union:the action of joining together or the fact of being joined together, especially in a political context.
Here are some other words for union which inspire me:
The Aesthetic Movement in Britain (1860 – 1900) aimed to escape the ugliness and materialism of the Industrial Age, by focusing instead on producing art that was beautiful rather than having a deeper meaning – ‘Art for Art’s sake’.
Pictorialism:
For the pictorialist, a photograph, like a painting, drawing or engraving, was a way of projecting an emotional intent into the viewer’s realm of imagination. Pictorialism as a movement thrived from about 1885 to 1915, although it was still being promoted by some as late as the 1940s.
Romanticism:
Romanticism began towards the end of the 18th century and was a reaction to the industrial revolution. It emphasises on emotion and the sublime (great beauty) within nature.
Union in Relationships
Another idea I had for the theme of union is the union of people, the idea of relationships and friendships.
Collages
After doing research and looking for ideas of what to produce for the theme of union I thought of collages, combining images. I thought of this as it is something I have done in a previous project in response to the theme of Anthropocene.
