November 19, 2010

Fractured Urbania

There is a very interesting attempt at abstract photography over here called "Fractured Urbania". It is obviously inspired by David Hockney and it is the first of this kind that I've seen somewhere on a photography site. But that may be due to me not surfing enough ;-)

New Justice
This image is copyright by Chris Heilman 2010. Click through the image for a larger version.

Chris wrote about his image: "A great deal of my photography is about photography. In this case [...] the photographs are overtly about construction of new, large scale urban development. Breaking the photograph up this way suggests impermanence, ... or what? an artificial facade? The picture is an expression of this."

I find it highly interesting but have no clue as to how it was produced. But I'm a little weary as to what is the goal of these images and how this goal is supported by this special technique. As I wrote in a commentary there: "In the case of both images above I'm a little unsure what the topic/theme of those images is. The consequence is that I have the feeling the technique is a little "l'art pour l'art" (if you excuse my French!)... But nice technique nonetheless." To which Chris answered. "This is not the first time I have heard this criticism of my work, and I accept that there is validity to it. Given that, I feel that my themes are perhaps too personally coded to be easily accessible."

I think his remark hits on an often recurring theme with photographs that are more than just snapshots or "postcards": What is the intention of the photographer behind or beyond what can readily be seen in the image?

2 comments:

  1. Yo, Thomas!

    At first I was feeling around for techniques that were, at least to me, unique. Once I found this one, I latched onto it and put together a collection: Too Big To Fail It's about the broken financial system, the dissolution of trust between us - the wage earners, and them - the wage takers.

    Each picture features a financial institution shown in a "broken" state.

    Some of these are currently being prepared for an exhibition this Spring.

    http://homepage.mac.com/cheilman1/toobigtofail/

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    1. Very interesting series, Chris! And nice captions too: "Institute for Economic Demolition" ;-)
      Keep up the good work, and good luck with your exhibition!

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