My concept was "digital museum." I love learning about history, but the 18th-20th centuries are my blind spot and in my opinion, there's no better way to learn about history than to go to a museum. To visualize this, I inserted a picture of myself in the setting as though I'm experiencing the moment with the featured individuals. I chose to wear clothing that deliberately contrasted with the others and I chose to depict myself looking down at my phone to convey that in no way am I able to interact with any of the men in the photo and that I'm a tourist to the time.
Library of Congress source.
This artwork was created by Ryan Black. The basic subject of the work shows a landscape view of a rocky hill with eight people staring off at the view over a town in 1862. The view of the town is covered in a thick mist or fog. There is a clear focus on the frontal figures, as they are much sharper in quality. Seven of the people are wearing traditional garments from that time, while one person is alone in contrast. The standing-out figure appears to be from a different time, as they are wearing modern clothes, and their clothing is much brighter. The modern person's existence seems not to affect the other seven people around them. The photo has a very rough texture, with a large crack in the glass and many scratches. Implying as if the photographer was the only one to notice the out-of-place figure after developing the image. One of the scratches is more of an inscription in the bottom right corner that reads 1862. The photo has an interesting use of the rule of thirds. The focus point starts at the bottom, which is also the darkest section of the image. Moving vertically in thirds, each section becomes brighter, but there is less detail. The bright and empty space brings the viewer's eyes down to the subject, which is dark. There is then clear contrast showing the modern person in bright clothing against a dark area of the image.
ReplyDeleteI interpreted the work as if someone was able to travel in the past and view history with their own eyes. With this ability, they remained unnoticed by the surrounding people. They are able to gain firsthand source material about the past, not through history books or stories. They view the moment with all of their senses and can experience the world of the past. I find the cracks in the glass very interesting. The cracks almost suggest the photographer didn't notice the modern person while taking the photo but only after developing it. It suggests shock in the photographer's discovery. The scratches on the inscription also suggest the photographer left the date showing something doesn’t quite belong due to the context of the year.
The content and technique of the work are both very successful. Every subject of the photo fit the idea of working in this form of photography. The subjects could stand for long periods of time: a grayed-out skyline with no clouds, and the mist almost blurring the view of the town. The use of texture really stood out in the success of the work. A soft and fading grit from the egg yolk, scratches and smudges from handling the glass screen, and, most importantly, the cracks in the glass.
In conclusion, the work shows the main subject viewing history in the year 1862. They are unable to interact with the surrounding people and are looking at their phone. Their clothing and phone show the contrasting timeline, and their ability to fit in shows they are unnoticed in the environment.