MEMORY (SERIES)
I have always been drawn to black and white photography; for its simplicity, power, and verity. Color photography has its own truths.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published his book Zur Farbenlehre (Theory of Colors) in 1810. Goethe's work is on the nature of colors and the phenomenon of human color perception. He argued colors appealed directly to our senses and noted the importance of the physiological aspect of colors. He separated his views from Sir Isaac Newton by stating darkness is not an absence of light, but rather as polar to and interacting with light; color results from this interaction of light and shadow. Goethe characterized color as arising from the dynamic interplay of darkness and light. Darkness can weaken light in its working power, and conversely light can limit the energy of darkness. He explains yellow is a light which has been dampened by darkness, and blue is a darkness weakened by light. Goethe wrote light is "the simplest most undivided most homogenous being that we know. Confronting it is darkness".
Memory (series) is a study of color, emotion, and memory. To break down a frame into its most essential elements of color, light and shadow; I was attempting to capture an artifact of my visual memory and emotional experience. As in architecture I believe by editing all non-essential forms, features or concepts; allows the essence and identity of the work to be exposed. By removing the clarity of the lens and by studying the erosion of my subjects I started to explore the inescapable beauty of color, light, shadow and yugen. This for me, was the essence of my experience. IN THIS BODY OF WORK, I found the details OF A WELL FOCUSED IMAGE to be distracting from a greater moment AND I came to believe THIS WAS a stronger connection to our Iconic memory. We all seek great moments of truth - and what might be considered abstract for some, is for me the most realistic. Constantin Brancusi said when speaking about his work "what is real is not the appearance, but the idea, the essence of things".
Art and science are continually pushed to new levels, built upon the achievements of those who have come before us. The visual technique of this work I dare not call my own, but rather influenced and inspired by the great work of Bill Jacobson and Hiroshi Sugimoto. There is a cultural tradition in Japan called honkadori, in which the act of emulating the works of great predecessors is regarded as a praiseworthy endeavor. It is through this process we continue a dialogue and push to find new discoveries of our own.