Category: Unit 5 Research

                              “Jimmy Paulette and Tabboo in the bathroom“

This photograph taken by Nan Goldin, an American photographer known for her constant exploration of LGBT bodies due to her fascination, she also had an interest in “moments of intimacy” both subjects making many appearances in her work.

The picture was taken from The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, a 1985 show involving photographs taken between 1979 and 1986. It was an autobiographical document of some of New York’s no wave music and art scene, based around the Stonewall gay subculture.

During the early hours of the 28th of June 1969 a series of riots took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan. These riots were violent demonstrations by members of the LGBT community, the gay community in particular. They were considered the most important act leading up to the gay liberation movement.

Gay Americans in the 1950’s and 1960’s were faced with an anti-gay legal system. The last years of 1960 were several controversial movements taking place. The most well known being, the Civil Rights movement that began during the late 1940’s and ended in 1968 where people fought against racial discrimination and for equal rights.

Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s very little establishments allowed gay people to enter, those who did allow them to enter were usually bars. During this time police raids took place regularly, the Stonewall Inn acting as a home to many members of the LGBT and the homeless youth.

Today, it is planning to host the largest LGBT pride in 2019. It is going to be held in New York to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Nan Goldin’s work is based around her own experiences with family members, friends and lovers. One of her most famous pieces is a picture that was taken of her after her partner beat her.

 

Ori Gersht is a Israeli artist who is best known for his slow motion capture photography. The majority of his work is still life, he takes photos of; flowers, vases and other ceramic items.

On his personal website, it states that his work “hinges heavily on historical reference used as metaphors for contemporary life“ Gersht’s photography is recognised for the capturing of an explosion, sometimes it is moments before the object breaks and other times it is right as the explosion occurs.

       

His most famous pieces are his series done with bouquet of flowers. I personally think these are very capturing as they aren’t something I had ever seen before, the vibrant colours of the flowers contrast the black background and you can see petals and pieces of a vase shattering. Also, I like the photograph he took of the flowers with what looks like some powder in, it gives it a very unique look.

It is said that these photographs depict floral arrangements from the 19th century,

  

Another series he did involved different typed of ceramics such as teacups, plates and decorative china. Once again, the colour of the subjects contrast the background as it is a brighter colour.

However he also did a series of similar photographs but with a different colour scheme; the background now white which still manages to isolate the subject making it the main focus. I prefer the images with the black background as I feel like it helps the subject stand out a bit better, although the white background does make the image look a lot cleaner.

      

In these photos, he uses a variety of pastel coloured items that go well with the colour scheme. It is softer look than the black background but it still has the explosion being the main focus once again.

Upon doing my own research, I found an artist I instantly became intrigued by; Brandon Woelfel. I found his photography page on Instagram and found myself hooked, he typically does shoots involving neon signs and lights.

Brandon Woelfel is a portrait photographer based in New York where he takes photos at home. He stated in a video that the majority of his photos are taken inside his house where he has many neon signs and different coloured lights that are constantly featured in his pictures, however some of the outdoor shots are from his garden or even somewhere along his street.

In multiple of his photos he uses his iPhone’s screen in order to get that mirrored effect, by placing the screen near the camera lens and tilting it. These type of photos are very popular alongside his other light photos.

He’s also done shoots using long exposure and sparklers.

Once I found his main Instagram account [brandonwoelfel], I soon discovered his other account. On his second account [branwoelfel] he posts the photo before editing and then a comparison of the finished image.

I enjoyed looking at them as it was fascinating to see just how much was edited and how the finished images look much more crisp.

He also has a YouTube channel [Brandon Woelfel] where he posts vlogs, tips and also behind the scenes of his photoshoots.

After finding some of his shoots, I realised I had seen his work before.Someone who is quite familiar in his shoots is Cailee Rae, a singer who has been the focus of a lot of his photography. Those pictures usually being posted on her account as well.

 

I really liked the effect he used in this, in a video he showed how he achieved it. He has the model wrapped up or holding the lights but then has some so he can hold it close to the lens–similar to the iPhone screen, allowing him to get this effect.

Vicki DaSilva

 Vicki DaSilva

Vicki DaSilva is an American artist who has been creating images since 1980. During her time as an art student in 1981 she was an intern for the video and performance artist, Joan Jonas and soon began a ten year job as a personal assistant for Richard Serra, a sculptor.

She is the first female to use light tracing to create “Text Light Graffiti” where she would use the light tracing and wrote different words.

Some of her work is based around getting a message across to people. However some of them are in a abstract style but some of her most famous pieces are the light tracing in graffiti.

Other pieces of hers are very captivating. As they are taken in a dark environment, the bright coloured lights really pop which I think looks intriguing. This image in particular looks like ribbon that are used in ballet, with the nice and steady lines.

Ian Egner

Ian Egner

Ian Egner has a mixture of subjects; landscape, fashion, commercial and travel. He is most known for his light tracing pictures, which I really like as I have always been interested in light tracing.

At 15 he did his very first commercial job. He has been in the photography industry for 8 years and has had many of his photographs published in local newspapers, magazines, books and also multiple blogs and websites.

He regularly does commissions close to where he lives; Staffordshire.

Marcel Duchamp was a french artist who was known for cubism and conceptual art.  Some of his artwork was referred to as “readymades” which included him taking an everyday or mundane item and altering it in some way.

This piece by Marcel was a popular piece that was created in 1919 called “L.H.O.O.Q” which really caught people off-guard as he took a piece of artwork belonging to another famous artist and made some changes to it. It was said that big inspiration for his work were Fauvism and french sculptor and painter, Matisse.

Fauvism

Matisse

Matisse created art that was pleasing to the eye whereas Duchamp wanted his art to “serve the mind” and his work was often compared to work by Pablo Picasso.

His early works were in a post impressionist style by experimented with many classical techniques and subjects. From 1904 to 1905, he attended Académie Julian; a private art school. During his time there, he drew and sold some cartoons which reflected his humour. They contained drawings with both verbal and visual puns.

As it was compulsory, he did some military service for the 39th infantry regiment where he learnt typography and printing processes, he later used both techniques in his work.

Duchamp’s work was exhibited in the “Royal Academy of painting and sculpture” as his eldest brother, Jacques- who had a membership during 1908.

During 1911, they formed a group including other cubist artists as well as writers and poets. The group had regular discussions but Marcel soon became uninterested as the Cubists were too serious, therefore he did not join in the discussions. However, he released a painting.

His painting, “Portrait of a chess player” was a piece with his two brothers playing chess. The two of them also being artists.

From 1915 he worked on a book called “The bride stripped bare by her bachelor” which was then released during 1923, also being given the name “The large glass“. The book was something he classed as one of his most important pieces of work.

Throughout the years, Duchamp remained important to the art world. He continued producing obscure pieces whilst also competing in chess tournaments. But sadly passed away during 1968.