Research
Modalities of Portraiture and the Construction of Identity, Research
Dana Fritz, Views Removed, Matsushima 1, March 24th - April 23rd 2022
Dana Fritz (An American artist born 1970) is motivated by an interest in the intersection of nature and culture and what it reveals about society. Her Views Removed series portrays this by mirroring traditional landscape paintings to invoke thought about what is real and what is fake. Fritz uses landscape and the blending of multiple images to change and mould the viewer's perspective creating something entirely new. Mrs Fritz has decided to create something beyond photography, sculpture and cinematography by combining them all to make one work.
Combining mediums is something I am now planning to look into further, perhaps using multiple mediums such as photography and cinematography to create my final work at the end of the semester.
Daniel Gordon, Still life’s Portraits & Parts Wallspace, Portrait in Red, Green and Blue, 2010 - 2011
Danial Gordon’s (An American artist born 1980) works combine many different forms of making such as photography, collage and sculpture. His practice is mainly focused on making 2D, 3D and vice versa by making them 3D and then taking a photo of the work once again making it 2D. The works pull from many current modes of working as well as pulling from more traditional methods such as still life and portraiture. They often use found materials.
His project Still Lifes, Portraits & Parts, Wallspace (2010-2011) has provided me with fresh ideas to incorporate layers of some sort, perhaps with a model into my final body of work. I may layer multiple mediums/ photographs to get my final body of work.
Cocu Liu, Canal and Madison Street, Date Unknown
Cocu Liu was born in Beijing and his work mainly focuses on urban landscape photography. For the majority of his work he uses a smartphone instead of a dedicated separate camera. He also uses it for the majority of his post processing. He has received quite a few awards for his work and has worked with Apple on campaigns. His work not only inspires me to continue with street/urban photography but also pushes me to think outside the box of a camera, and how that can influence the final product. His work also reaches outside the realm of what I have been told a photographer must be, someone with a camera, SD cards and a million adaptors. This may be something I look into in the future to incorporate into my works.
https://trope.com/blogs/artists/cocu-liu
Matthew Brooks, Togetherness, October 2021
Matthew Brooks was born in Canada went to Concordia University. There he received a B.F.A in Photography and a M.F.A in Studio Arts. His work frequently focuses on ageing architecture and material culture in the form of large scale photographic works. In one of his recent works ‘Togetherness’ it was commented about his work, ‘It’s about scratching below the surface and finding the real person in each portrait he creates, rather than the image the subject might feel they should project.’ This is the kind of mindset that carries through the work and makes the piece so powerful. It is something that I am making an effort to keep in mind when thinking about my own works. His work has also inspired my identity set of images in the first half of the brief. The faces, emotions how the viewer is left wondering is something that I hope also came through in my work.
https://togetherness.paris/
Karen Remsen, Tessellation 1, May 2022
Karen Remsen didn’t take the traditional way of going to University to get a BVA - she put her art career on hold for 15 years as she believed she couldn’t make it in the field. It was only recently that she picked it up again due to the pandemic. She works in oils and occasionally adds in metal leaf to her works. Almost all of her work focuses on identity and in particular, the female identity. I chose this work as I believe it relates to my work with identity and covering up some of which would typically make it into a standard portrait, covering up / taking away and adding to the identity of the main subject matter. Even though she is a painter I included her in this list as I am trying to broaden my research into areas that I wouldn’t normally think would relate to my ways of working.
Modalities of Portraiture and the Construction of Identity, Bibliography
Trope Publishing Co. “Cocu Liu.” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://trope.com/blogs/artists/cocu-liu.
Trope Publishing Co. “Cocu Liu.” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://trope.com/products/cocu-liu.
“CV — Matthew Brooks.” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://matthewbrooks.info/CV.
“Matthew Brookes - Togetherness.” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://togetherness.paris/.
Karen Remsen. “Tessellation 1.” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://www.karenremsenart.com/shop/p/tessellation.
“Togetherness an Exhibition by Matthew Brookes, LA & Paris | Matthew Brookes | CLM.” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://www.clm-agency.com/photographers/matthew-brookes/togetherness-an-exhibition-by-matthew-brookes-la-paris-1.
MODELS.com. “Togetherness Exhibition (Exhibition).” Accessed June 12, 2022. https://models.com/work/exhibition-togetherness-exhibition.
Methods of Making, Research
Auckland Council Libraries, Local Archived Film Photos
Coming out of working with the Hasselblad, I still wanted to work with film but I also wanted to switch to 35m film. This was mainly so I could start my journey into developing film at home as I only had a 35m development tank.
For this work with the 35m film, I needed a subject. This was something that I found through facebook as I frequently see posts from the Auckland Council Libraries and their wide variety of old film photographs.
On the Auckland Council Libraries website I found old film photographs from around Blockhouse Bay, the area I grew up in. This peeked my interest and I dove deeper into these images. This was until I came across this photograph to the left. It is of the Post and Telegraph Office that still stands relatively close to where I grew up and spent a lot of my teen years. This post office fascinated me as it was one of the few building still standing. It outlasted all the pottery factories that had been replaced by malls and it was relatively untouched. Thus began my interest toward building, architecture and their heritage
Above are images from Blockhouse Bay and the sounding areas that I grew up in. They where collected by Auckland Council Libraries
Sourcing Materials
It was important to me that the items used in the final installation where not only relating back to the work, but also functioned properly.
Something that took along time to source was the device that would turn the lamp on and off. This was because most plug in timers where only hourly and I needed the intervals to be quicker than that. I talked to the techs about it and while it was possible to create a switch board to turn the lamp off and on, it would take weeks off work; weeks that I didn’t have. So the next best option was a timer with 15 minute intervals from JayCar.
The light itself was going to be a smaller desk lamp that I had found at The Warehouse however, due to time restrictions I had to think outside the box. I eventually decided on a metal light that could be attached to a stand. This turned out better than expected as I was able to manoeuvre the light with a lot of freedom and range in height.
With attaching the work all together, I needed a way that would look good, relate to the work and allow the prints to come away undamaged. This is when I came up with using clips to hold the work together. The prints where fairly light so they wouldn’t need to much so I bought foldback clips from Whitcoulls to hold the installation together.
The main frame holding all the images in place was created in software and then laser cut out. Originally I was going to use dowels or thin metal to create a frame but when I saw some cuts the laser cutter had created on a scrap piece of wood, I got the idea to use it rather trying to patch together my own. This way it would be stronger and would allow the frame pieces to be much smaller. The only down side was that the frame had to be sanded down due to the wood being burned and the possibility of marking the prints.
The dowels, 5mm x 900, at the bottom of the prints where sourced from Gordon Harris then cut to size. This is something that I debated on quite heavily so with the transparent paper you would be able to see them. In the end I decided to go with them as the papers had quite a curve to it and the prints needed something to hold them down.
The transparent and matte paper I sourced from Cornelius in the photography suite. I looked at a lot of different options when it came to transparent paper however, in the end the most cost effective, available option that worked with the printers was the paper that Cornelius had.
I would like to note that each of these pieces to the work took weeks to figure out and I debated with myself and others about the outcome of all the options.
Sanding Down the Edges to the Frame
“1-W0185.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/97310/rec/4.
“1-W0860.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/97545/rec/7.
“1-W0913.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/97508/rec/8.
“1-W0927.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/97995/rec/9.
“1-W0967.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/97267/rec/10.
“24 Hour Mechanical Timer A-N Switch | Jaycar Electronics New Zealand.” Accessed November 1, 2022. https://www.jaycar.co.nz/24-hour-mechanical-timer-a-n-switch/p/MS6113.
Pinterest. “(172) Pinterest.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/505318020686931938/.
“273-HAR007-10.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/101707/rec/6.
“273-HAR013-04.” Accessed October 6, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/100582/rec/7.
“273-HAR014-05.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/101628/rec/13.
“273-HAR049-13.” Accessed October 6, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/101134/rec/27.
“273-HAR049-22.” Accessed October 6, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/100651/rec/33.
“895-A74685.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/60290/rec/57.
“895-A74686.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/60386/rec/58.
“895-A74687.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/60484/rec/59.
“895-A74689.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/60402/rec/60.
“895-A74690.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/60518/rec/61.
“1043-153.” Accessed October 6, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/99847/rec/1.
“1053-5607.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/117347/rec/5.
“1212-29.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/94259/rec/16.
“1227-34-04.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/102109/rec/31.
“1227-35-07.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/102269/rec/32.
“1227-55-02.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/101901/rec/36.
“1269-B0114-08.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/74730/rec/100.
“1269-B0114-11.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/74464/rec/102.
“1269-Z0321-01.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/73410/rec/253.
“1269-Z0329-07.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/81911/rec/255.
“1784-303.” Accessed August 7, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/118338/rec/304.
“Alberton | Auckland | Places to Visit | Places | Heritage New Zealand.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.heritage.org.nz/places/places-to-visit/auckland-region/alberton.
“Auckland | Places to Visit | Places | Heritage New Zealand.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.heritage.org.nz/places/places-to-visit/auckland-region.
“BHE-P-002.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/43923/rec/62.
Etzelstorfer, Hannes. “Home.” Camera Austria (blog). Accessed September 27, 2022. https://camera-austria.at/.
———. “Home.” Camera Austria (blog). Accessed September 27, 2022. https://camera-austria.at/.
“Footprints 02609.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/54773/rec/36.
“GH BALSA WOOD ROUND 5 X 915MM.” Accessed October 31, 2022. https://www.gordonharris.co.nz/product/13604-gh-balsa-wood-round-5-x-915mm.
“HAR-P-005.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/54470/rec/84.
“HAR-P-006.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/47123/rec/85.
“HAR-P-007.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/44148/rec/86.
“HAR-P-008.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/46975/rec/87.
“Heritage New Zealand.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.heritage.org.nz/.
NZ Herald. “If These Walls Could Talk: Auckland’s under-Explored Historic Homes.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/auckland-travel-five-lesser-known-historic-homes/26VATE5BZ7IQOX6INBJB436YK4/.
“JTD-01E-04791.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/53756/rec/76.
“JTD-06J-00193.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/46719/rec/94.
“JTD-11A-00773-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/45096/rec/106.
“JTD-11A-00841-1.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/49298/rec/107.
“JTD-11A-00841-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/50261/rec/108.
“JTD-11A-01561.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/45647/rec/129.
“JTD-11A-01993-3.” Accessed July 21, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/50848/rec/146.
“JTD-11G-05404-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/54200/rec/78.
“JTD-11G-05405-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/48927/rec/79.
“JTD-11G-05406-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/53734/rec/80.
“JTD-11G-05407-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/50678/rec/81.
“JTD-12A-04012-2.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/47668/rec/85.
“JTD-0059-T.” Accessed July 21, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/44862/rec/59.
“NBA0001.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/31851/rec/13.
“NBA0001.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/31851/rec/13.
“NBA0005.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/33930/rec/17.
New Zealand Historic Places Trust | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand. “New Zealand Historic Places Trust.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22352574.
“NZG-18981210-0741-01.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/116806/rec/16.
“T0286.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/29127/rec/22.
“T6784.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/33381/rec/39.
Auckland - West. “The Potters Post,” June 25, 2013. http://auckland-west.co.nz/2013/06/26/the-potters-post/.
Alternate Instinct. “Uncategorised.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://www.alternateinstinct.co.nz/services/mobile-marketing/mobile-websites/2-uncategorised.
“Whitcoulls Foldback Clips 19mm Pack Of 10 | Whitcoulls.” Accessed October 31, 2022. https://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/whitcoulls-foldback-clips-19mm-pack-of-10-6462188.