Category: Critique

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Letters of Note

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Shaun Usher runs Letters of Note; Lists of Note and Letterheady. Three websites with the theme of the art of handwriting. In a recent event for World Book Day, Shaun Usher spoke to the Guardian about Letters of Note: “I couldn’t believe that no one had collected all these amazing documents before. I find it incredibly sad that we are going to lose the magic of letter writing – we are gaining speed and spontaneity through advances in technology such as Twitter and email, but we are losing the unique, considered form of communication that letters represent. When you write … Continue reading Letters of Note

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#TweetByHand

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Mike Figgis is an English film director and writer, famous for his ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ starring Nicolas Cage. Mike Figgis is also a Twitter user and uses #TweetByHand. Tweet By Hand is a tweeted picture of a piece of writing. Twitter is supposed to be microblogging: however, more often than not, an argument/sentiment/thought/idea cannot be fully addressed in 140 characters. We often see a tweet with a link to a blog. #tweetbyhand 179 New York pic.twitter.com/XoN41tHmMk — Mike Figgis (@TheMikeFiggis) March 15, 2014 However, Tweet By Hand means that Twitter users can read the thoughts without clicking away from the … Continue reading #TweetByHand

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What is a Photograph?

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Imagine technology as a train that constantly moves forward, as time does, according to our perception. Photography is a product of technology, in this example acting as a single coach, which is inherently synced with its direction, and shares many of its attributes. In order to understand how photography has taken it’s current form and attempt to think of a possible future we have to trace its origin, and course in time. Joseph Kesisoglou, 2014 Photography is a product of the industrial revolution, and like a lot of the innovative technology at the time, it has evolved. The practice and … Continue reading What is a Photograph?

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Stuart Whipps: contesting the archive

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©Stuart Whipps 2011 Stuart Whipps is a Birmgingham based photographer. In 2011 he showcased his work at the Ikon Gallery in Brindley Place entitled: Why Contribute to the Spread of Ugliness. I went to see this exhibition at the end of 2011. I discovered this blog post which describes the exhibition better than I can recount: The main room centres on 487 boxes of archived paperwork from the architectural practices of John Madin, currently stored in Birmingham Central Library. There are three slide projectors, each on a different wall, which are sequenced to guide you through three strands of subject matter: the … Continue reading Stuart Whipps: contesting the archive

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Out of the Archives- Tim Linfield

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A short post about a appropriating archives for contemporary art. Visually it appears that artists use collage by means of appropriation. However, Tim Linfield used book archives as the raw material. He encourage people to make their own books from old books. Rewriting the language as it were and questioning the typical structure of a book. The most interesting piece to me however, are the jars of ashes. Ashes of books which were banned. This is such a shocking piece as it is customary to preserve archives and treat them with the utmost care. For example, Titanic artefacts are kept … Continue reading Out of the Archives- Tim Linfield

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Chattanooga: The Green Factory (Pierre Bessard)

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Chattanooga- The Green Factory. The Green Factory is a self publication by French photographer Pierre Bessard. He travelled to Chattanooga in America to explore more of the neighbourhood the residence has created. The photobook comprises of family portraits within their homes, personal stories and architectural photography. The Green Factory is a neighbourhood which challenges the stereotype of Americans being the carbon giants, as this community lives by eco-friendly means. Bessard regards himself as lucky to have been so welcomed by the community, trusting him to enter into their homes and photograph them. Interestingly, as I looked through the book and … Continue reading Chattanooga: The Green Factory (Pierre Bessard)

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#picbod Couples: Joanna Ornowska

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With formal portraiture again, Joanna Ornowska, depicts love as a climb. From the easy flat fields with the fast pace to the face of the mountain. She photographed couples in the peak district as they were walking the hills. They are all in portrait fashion, focusing on the subjects. Although formulaic in her approach and style, the couples seem relaxed to have their portrait taken. This indicates their willingness to participate, but how they are at ease with having their photograph taken in this open space. A lovely collection of work coupled with quotations by some of the sitters of … Continue reading #picbod Couples: Joanna Ornowska

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#picbod Dona Schwartz – On the Nest

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On the Nest is an ongoing photographic series of work surrounding the adaption of space to make way for new life. It is how parents have prepared their ‘nest’ for their unborn child. The settings are of the baby’s room; their critical decision making for how they would like their child to see the world. Schwartz has both parents of the unborn child formally stood in this space. However, it is interesting to see the nuances between the poses: whether they are stood apart; whether the mother/father/neither are touching the bump; whether the father has his arm around the mother. … Continue reading #picbod Dona Schwartz – On the Nest

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Moltonia 04 – Ed Wakefield @ FRAME_

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FRAME_birmingham hosts 40 artists in 30 venues throughout Birmingham for 3 months. Works are exhibited in white frames in places we already go; cafes, bars, shops including Urban Outfitters. One of the artists being exhibited is Ed Wakefield, a Birmingham collage artist, in Birmingham Cathedral. Moltonia, 2012, Ed Wakefield Ed Wakefield’s obsession with collage, posting daily on his website, has meant he has created this new world. One part of this world, Moltonia, is currently being exhibited with Project_FRAME at Birmingham Cathedral. An odd location in respects that this piece has scientific connotations; however, the belief of an afterlife is … Continue reading Moltonia 04 – Ed Wakefield @ FRAME_

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Beat Streuli @IKON Gallery

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Last night was the launch of Streuli’s exhibition of his street photography named ‘New Street’. Spread over two floors there was a collection of 3 metre tall prints, 3 metre tall projections, 90s television sets and flat screens. The multimedia still and moving images gave a great aesthetic to the work, giving it movement and portraying movement of time. On the first floor was his series between Sydney, Brussels, New York, São Paulo, Guangzhou and Cape Town. These were 3 metre tall prints which were attached together like a film strip. For me this indicated a continuum of a narrative in … Continue reading Beat Streuli @IKON Gallery