Image and Meaning: Ideas, Research and Approach
Project #1: Identify central concerns in my life and develop a body of work
IDEAS
When I saw “central concerns in my life”, I immediately thought of My Religion and My loved ones. It was an easy question to answer as I am naturally a very self-reflecting person. The two I mentioned keeps me in check as person, they help me grow and they are my pillars of support.
Then, the idea of love came to my mind. Love is something we naturally need even as a baby, an adult, till we die, whether we like it or not and whether we admit it or not too.
It reflects on the person we are today. It defines us. It influences our actions and our words. But we don’t notice it. It subconsciously affects us.
In my visual journal, I wrote, that love can be given and received from many places. They are: our family, God, the opposite sex, the same sex, animals, our passions. It may come from a place that I don’t even know an thought of yet, hence, not listed above. The point is love can come from many places and it gives us have a humane quality. Compassion. Empathy. Sympathy.
RESEARCH
After Monday’s class, I felt my topic was too still too broad. In my mind, I had so many ideas of ways I can approach it. It was messy and jumbled up in my head. I need a focus.
I’ve decided to focus on relationships that are romantically involved. It was somehow the most prominent of all ideas. But how do I approach this idea? I wanted something strong. Something that could allow me to tell stories.
These are the artists that I’ve done research on and had given me some inspiration.
#1 Diane Arbus
She’s American Photographer that is famous poignant portraits of individuals on the fringes of society. Fringes of society are unconventional individuals for example street people, transvestites, nudists, carnival performers and many more.
She is controversial with many bizarre and disturbing images that have close distance between photographer and subject that has raw psychological intensity.
There are 3 particular works that I was particularly interested in that might be helpful with this project.
- Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey 1967
The picture was taken at a Christmas party. The identical twins were obviously dressed identical. However, one is smiling and the other frowning.
This questions the topic of identity. The twins, even tho came in a pair, were individuals at the same time and that created noticeable tension between the two ideas. They have identical clothing but their expressions strongly emphasise their individuality.
2) Teenage Couple on Hudson Street, NYC 1963
This young couple looks oddly middle aged. Their relationship seems intimate from the boy’s arm that was put over his girlfriend’s shoulder. And why are they wearing clothes that are formal and adult looking?
I did some research and found some interpretations. This couple probably grew up on Hudson Street where the photo was taken. During this time many immigrants had settle there after the 2nd World War. It was a disadvantage city. The couple probably were forced to become adults before their time due to the difficult circumstances.
3) A Family on their Lawn one Sunday in Westchester, NY
There are three things to look at. The Mother, the Father and their child. The picture seems symmetrical, with the pair wearing white and lying on chairs. Similar to the first work I mentioned, the pair have different body languages. The Mother seems relaxed and the Father just the opposite.
It could mean different things but the interpretation I saw was that the picture suggests the 60’s society where men would go for work and the women to stay at home to be housewives.
The kid at the back playing alone tells about the relationship between the kid and his parents which was rather distant.
#2 Martin Schoeller
He is among the foremost portrait photographers. He takes stripped down and tightly framed pictures which allows him to get to the heart of his subjects.
“[With] the close-up you’re in this fortunate position of always walking away with something where nothing else but the person matters.”
#3 Gilles Bensimon
He is famous for fashion photography and helped shaped the magazine that it is today. He does not consider himself an artist but recently he made photographs of fresh cut flowers that are submerged in water.
“I realise the flower is something very tragic. When you cut them, they’re dead. But when you put them in water, they start to come alive again. They have a rebirth.”
APPROACH
1a) Diane Arbus gave me an idea to shoot couples on the streets of Singapore.
It could be on the train, in the park, on the bus, at a traffic light. I’d ask them to pose for me.
I could station myself in one place till I find an interesting couple. It’d be portraits of different couples together.
Maybe through their natural body language, their clothing, their expressions and other factors, it would give the photographs character and would suggests stories that the audience can derive on their own terms.
1b) For this approach, I would do in a similar way but online.
Instead of stationing myself, I thought of recruiting interesting people through Instagram or Twitter.
I thought it would be interesting to take tightly framed portraits of coupled with their faces cheek to cheek. Inspired by Martin Schoeller.
However, I would not know where these photos could be taken.
2) This approach would be rather abstract, inspired by Gilles Bensimon.
I would choose a medium so I can represent the complications of love and love itself. I would have to do a mindmap really going in depth of what message I would want to highlight.
Medium is still yet to be thought of.
The quote of Gilles Bensimon saying cut flowers are dead till submerged in water, then they are rebirth, somewhat reminded me of the characteristics of love.
CONCLUSION
For now I am leaning toward approach 1a as it seems to be the strongest. But if there is time, I will try to experiment with the other two. Please do comment on what I should do! 🙂
