MOMENTO

My photography is all about seeking the moment when everything around me is pleasing the senses aesthetically. MOMENTO was created to capture a moment in time where I paused and deeply considered the environment around me. Each image captures a moment I perceived to be beautiful and caused me to analyze the human vs. human, human vs. nature, and human vs. self.

By using light boxes with exposed electrical wire I am making an environmental statement that will engage the viewer in an interactive experience. These light boxes are powered by electrical outlets, exposing and exaggerating the use of electrical wire. Using the excess of wire will hopefully trigger the thought of how we use electricity and other resources in our daily life.

As an artist, I am beginning to explore different ways of displaying my photographs to further convey an idea, such as using light as a means of interaction between the viewer and the image. In this project, I am using the light emitted by the light boxes to create a mood within the gallery. To me, a group of backlit images help give luminosity and build an environment that printed photos do not have. This changes how the photographs are perceived, making the concept grander. I have taken concepts from contemporary artists who I admire such as Donald Judd, Robert Irwin, and Todd Hido. Each of who has influenced me in a different way.

Robert Irwin uses of space, light, form, and color to create environments that question the space around the viewer. He has made me think more about the way I interact with the space around me. Furthermore, he has helped me think critically about how an audience could experience my work. I would like the viewer to think about the way they interact with the space around them, and for them to feel a feeling when they are experiencing my art.

Todd Hido creates a romantic quality to his photographs, recalling impressionist paintings. He does this by giving his artwork a sense of timing and moment to his stationary scenes, by using sharp and soft focus. By studying him, I have found myself digging into my memories and imagination for inspiration to craft narratives of West Texas landscapes and using things that interest me, such as detail, color, and light.

My fascination for Donald Judd’s work and how it has a relationship between positive and negative spaces has influenced the composition in my photographs. The composition on each photograph is such an important aspect of my work. Each image I make should leave the viewer wanting to know more about what is happening in the space beyond the edges of the photograph. I apply Judd’s concept to my own photographs by breaking the space into busy and simple areas. . Additionally, he has influenced me in the way I conduct my work, by focusing on one task at a time.

My artwork relates to the Impressionist and the Romanticists. Claude Monet painted in plein air and recorded light as it moved, creating mood in his paintings. He was capturing his experience with light at that moment for a period of time. I am documenting my experience with light, using slow shutter speeds. The Romanticists portrayed emotion and glorified nature and were a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. My project is a direct reaction to our current political, social, and environmental situation. I am glorifying nature and questioning our future on this Earth.