Category Archives: Assignment 1

Foundation 4D Project 1: Exhibition Display/Layout Rationale

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This was my final layout for the arrangement of my photographs for Project 1.

After much thought, I really wanted to show the separation of moment from memory (as aforementioned in previous posts). I think this layout really shows that idea. It goes from the raw, original photo of the moment with him to the figurative image of the firework, which is a symbol for my interpretation of the flashes of memories that are left after someone is gone.

The far right shows two photos that drift noticeably out from the mass. The last sequence of momentary photos are these two:

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I especially wanted to sequence the last two photos to show that the intensity of the experience/moment fades when the person looks away, or in other more metaphoric terms, “leaves”. The presence fades, but the sad part about this is that it’s inevitable for moments to fade; it’s part of time’s erosion. The last drifting photo is a firework and I think in the end, at least time gives us the presence of the memory, no matter how fleeting.

Foundation 4D Project 1: Artist Statement

Photography works with time in the sense that it captures one moment. A second where the only thing in the eyes of the photographer is what lies within the lens.

Memories are like these fleeting moments, whereby the experience lasts for a certain length of time, but the remembrance of what happened does not

Through this project, I wanted to explore: “what comes next after loss?” Someone very important to me has gone overseas and I no longer feel their physical presence; all I have are the ephemeral memories of my time with him, in place of the person himself.

The combination of my photos of him next to fireworks expresses the explicit separation of moment from memory.

There is a peculiar sadness in the desire for seconds to slow down, for minutes to freeze. One is then led to wonder what would happen, if all we have is time.

Foundation 4D: Project 1 Recap/Review/Thoughts

We had a “what-we-have-so-far” progress presentation in Foundation 4D class on Thursday. The double exposure technique that I was working on with my photos was displayed.

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These are the few of the experimentations I have done with my photographs. I liked the effect of combining black and white photos to bring out the colour of the overlaid photo.

As my project began to take form, I wanted to involve time as an element, and look into what is left behind as time moves on. In the end, these moments become memories; the time you had with someone becomes as fleeting as the fireworks that I used in the double-exposure photos. I really liked the effect, as I think it represents the transition of the moment into a firework in your memory.

However, after my presentation and discussion with the teacher about how to present these photos, it would appear that the effect of double exposure photography is slightly overused. I then tried to look at how the photos would appear side by side (photo + firework picture).

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I discussed this with Josiah and he helped me realise that by placing the raw photos themselves next to the images of the fireworks, it allowed the viewer to draw their own connections rather than obviously placing them together. I really liked this notion, and so I decided to go with the teacher’s suggestion (as well as Josiah’s guidance) to keep the photos separate. I think that maybe, in this way, it shows how the moment and the memory are two separate things as well.

Foundation 4D – Project 1 Experimentation

Building off inspiration from photographers such as Samantha Ann Francis and others that I’ve mentioned in my previous posts, I tried taking and layering my own photographs to experiment with not only their methodology, but to see what would express my theme of grief and loss more.

Though continuing on from this idea of being obsessed with grief and loss, I was led to think about “What is left behind when someone is gone?” What, I wonder, stays after the presence leaves? This formulated my ideas/story into a much more interesting exploration of a question that I am still left figuring out.

The photos below have a base of a grainy black and white appearance because I like the effect of black and white – it puts emphasis on the form of the photograph’s subject.

Photograph_01

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Photograph_02

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At first, I wanted to layer and experiment with flowers. The reason being that their symbolism is something that I have been fascinated with for a long time. They’re beautiful and alive, but short-lived and are constantly going through seasons of change. As with their natural growth and change, I thought it was fitting for the concept of coping with grief and loss – as these two things are, after all, changes that must be accepted, just as how flowers live this way. Aesthetically however, I preferred the colour schemes of Photograph_01 over _02 and tried to make more images with these kind of red/pink warm colours as opposed to yellow and green.

Photograph_03

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This one I played around with the dust/scratch effect on photographs to make it look older. I wanted to suggest the notion of the past being the past, and as time ages, change will come about as well.