Wednesday 30 November 2011

goodies vs baddies


goodies vs baddies a video by mdx on Flickr.

On strike today and too lazy to go on the march - H and me set up"home school" - now exhausted - finished off with his first animation - probably a postmodern comment on the state of the nation.

the cleaner's cart

the cleaner's cart by mdx

Sunday 27 November 2011

Thursday 24 November 2011

Jeff Wall in conversation with David Campany


Went to see Jeff Wall in conversation with David Campany at the new Saint Martins site at Kings Cross.

starting points in everyday life 
noticing something from everyday life and then not photographing it
just experiencing it and then waiting - a gap - a poetic gap
the missed event creating a wake of energy to create something new
"there are no rules"
making art can become a model for what a work of art in that medium can be
becoming desperate to create your art can leave you gullible to your own mediocrity
the game of finding your own judgment of a work of art
"it's a pitfall to have a definition of photography"
"there are no rules only results"
make work for your standards

Sunday 20 November 2011

the idea

“I heard a well-known artist say what’s important is the idea. I try to go with almost no idea. Of course, they are probably there, but I don’t like to write them down or put them in words, otherwise, why do it? I like to discover what I’m looking for in the process of the work. ”
 Chantal Akerman

might pick this question for my essay

7. Using ideas and theoretical approaches developed in the lectures, write a detailed critical analysis of a piece of photographic or video work. You must write about a piece of work you have visited in person (not one you’ve just seen or read about in a book).

Although this is quite similar to my essay last year when I wrote about Gabriel Orozco's use of photography - I'm interested to apply the ideas of embodiment and psychoanalysis to an actual exhibition. Applying theory to actual real objects seems a bit more useful...

Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles,    
http://unemployedcinema.blogspot.com/2011/11/thorough-cleaning-triple-bill.html

Memory Remains by Francesc Torres
http://www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/memory-remains-911-artifacts-at-hangar-17-by-francesc-torres
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/8724952/A-grim-reminder-of-the-World-Trade-Center-attacks.html


Signs of a Struggle: Photography in the Wake of Postmodernism
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/signs-of-a-struggle-photography-in-the-wake-of-postmodernism/

Thursday 17 November 2011

We made photo boards with photographs of my dad

Tea and sandwiches after the church service by mdx
We made some photo boards with photographs of my dad, and put them up in the hall were everyone was having tea and sandwiches after the funeral service.
People really liked looking at and talking about them - it seemed a really direct and practical use of photographs.

Pictures of Dad

Pictures of Dad - 1 by mdx

Pictures of Dad - 2 by mdx

Pictures of Dad - 3 by mdx


Friday 11 November 2011

Untitled

Untitled by mdx
My dad died last friday and I haven't much been in the mood for photographs but here's two from the week.

Sunday 6 November 2011

waiting room





Our group project this term is to create "four linked images of narrative base constructed photographic work."
Our idea so far is to show different "gazes" on a figure seated in a waiting room - the receptionists gaze, the security camera, an internal gaze, a medical gaze, a male gaze etc.
We have the student office at college for our first shoot today.

Tuesday 1 November 2011

where's the fun?

I think I'm suffering from "no longer taking photographs now I'm studying for a degree in photography" syndrome - well not quite - but all my photographs are for some purpose - finishing off shots for the book - test shots for the waiting room project - and so on - (not quite true as I did take a few snaps last week in Somerset) - but where's the fun? the light hearted joyful explorative photo taking of yore?
mmm maybe I have to continue on this trajectory to a point of almost giving it all up -
we shall see.....