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Intro to Visual Art: Photography - Gregory Crewdson
Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 9:41PM / Standard Entry
I've been asked a number of people over the last few months to start writing blogs about the photographers or artists I talk about. Most of the time when talking about pictures, whom ever I'm talking to never really understands who or what I'm talking about. Sure, some people know about photography, whether it be fine art or commercial but usually to a certain degree. Though I do try and read up on whatever my friends into, I can never grasp the entire picture. Take for example when hanging out with Jason Tobin, Dax Phelan or Glen Chin - these guys are emerced in film knowledge simply because they have to be. Its their job to know a reference to a film or a style of a director. I, and I thought I was well versed in film, don't know that much. My ankles are in but if I want to really know something I want to be up to my eyeballs in whatever I'm interested in.
But to return to the purpose of this blog series is to introduce and even reveal some photographers, artists and movements you may not even know about. Today, I'm going to talk about someone on the top of the photographic pyramid (mine anyway), Gregory Crewdson.
By chance a few weeks ago I watched a show late night on NowTV (channel VOOM) that introduced Crewdson's work. I've been studying his work ever since art school. The work is incredibly complex and deeply layered. I've always had a eerie feel when looking at his work. He always includes details that go far beyond a single frame usually to the point where you have look past the initial glance. I've interpreted the work as exploration of the psyche in an environmental portrait composition. In past literature and interviews Crewdson talked about himself as a young boy trying to listen in on his father - who was a psycho-analysis - and his patients. Of course he never admits to ever hearing any of the sessions, but the idea of making this effort translates into the work.
Rather than say too much or give you my impression, I’ll leave you to your own devises. Happy learning and stay tuned to future episodes.
* note. I realize that the pictures I've linked are not appearing in they're supposed to be. If you're interested in look at more of Crewdson's work google 'gregory crewdson' or click on this link for the pictures i've included in this entry. Top image link, bottom image link
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Video spillage - commercial sex scenes
Tuesday, Jul 21, 2009 2:07PM / Standard Entry
This is an over the top, quad x kind of commercial you'd expect to get banned. And in fact it did. I though I'd lay it down on you just of kicks anyway.
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A good life - Kitty (1993-2009)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 4:06PM / Standard Entry
It was a sad day today – I had to put down my cat, Kitty. Its a funny story about the name, my brother couldn’t come up with a name for him and ended up calling him Kitty. He had a couple in those days, one called Hermie (now gone as well) and Billy (sill alive in New York), both girls.
Kitty was always a people cat, talking to people, asking about what they were doing. Sometimes he would watch my brother or me play video games, I always figured cause he wanted the attention.
I remember him escaping the house on my once back in the states. I was in San Francisco at the time but would occasionally spend the weekends in Davis, about an hour and a half outside of SF. One Sunday night I decided at 2 or 3 in the morning to get some gas for my drive back to SF. Somewhere between my leaving the house and returning he escaped through the garage door as he usually did but I didn’t see it happen and I was very tired. The next morning at 6, I realized he wasn’t there. And seeing that I need to hit the road for SF, I called my brother’s then girlfriend (my brother was in San Diego for business) and asked her if she could help find him. But before I left that morning I remember hearing a dog barking up a tree as if a cat was perched in it. As it turned out when my brother returned Tuesday evening it took him a couple minutes to find him using the ‘can of tuna’ technique. Kitty zipped out a few seconds later looking feral, hungry and a little cold. Well, he was out there for two days.
He was never really a good navigator, often getting lost in our neighborhood and when found often taunted me to ‘try and catch him’. He was strong in those days and could easily scale the 7 foot backyard fence. In the last couple of days though he could hardily jump onto my bed without help.
I’ll remember the early mornings trying to wake me up by ear marking my favorite books. I wanted to believe he was reading them whilst I was out because he only biting into the corners of the books that I thought were good. I’ll also remember him taking up the real estate on my bed before I wanted to go to sleep or when he would sleep between my legs before I passed out facing up and some how maneuver to the backs of my legs when I ended up on my front in the morning.
I’ve never really felt so close to an animal or felt this way about losing someone or something but I guess this is how it feels. I think he’s doing good now, chewing on the grass somewhere, scaling huge fences and bouncing off walls with his speed. I’ll miss you K-dude.
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Art review - Robbie Cooper's Immersion
Thursday, Apr 30, 2009 3:59PM / Standard Entry
Hi gang,
On this, my birthday I'm going to share with you a gift of art. I've been lucky enough to find out about this guys work through my usual channels I think its the best thing I've seen in a while.
Not often in Hong Kong do you really see good art with world class calibre, and for the few artists I know, they travel out of Hong Kong to get their fill - I know I would if I had the money.
Robbie Copper is an photographer who took a very simple idea and took it to the next level. And sometimes the simple ideas are the best ones.
The work is focuses on the faces of children whilst they play video games or watch movies. The clip below mostly shows these kids playing video games (most you will recognize from the sound effects). He got the idea whilst interviewing people in internet cafes in China. According to an interview in the April 2009 issue of PDN, he noticed that his subjects would sit through the entire interview with their eyes transfixed to the screen.
Using the High Res 4K Red One camera Cooper films his subjects using a interrotron to grab the stills. (There is more information on the internet regarding the interrotron). Eventually Copper plans to get adults involved in his work.
Look at the stills and below is a compiled video clip from the series.
Enjoy your weekend cause I know I will.(Picture sourced from Design Corner)
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Edited for TV - Snakes on a plane
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 2:40PM / Standard Entry
I found something typical of American TV. As with hong kong they edit out swearing so the films with the best, or should I most pronounced profanity are rendered b-versions, lesser versions of the original. But sometimes, the edited for TV versions are funny.
Take for example this Samuel L Jackson gem, Snakes on a plane.
There's a great one of Die Hard III, with a vengence. I couldn't stop laughing about that one, I even wanted a DVD of that version.
Stats
- Raised in Hong Kong, college at CU Boulder and San Francisco Art Institute where I received a BFA in Photography. Big fan of film both shooting it and watching it...
- Occupation: Photographer
- Gender: Male
- Total visits: 80,403
