Def: 1. An inborn pattern of
behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to
specific environmental stimuli:
Def:
2. A misappropriated word that excuses an
inability to understand or explain the motivations behind decision-making.
There
is an immediate emotional reaction to events that can only be evaluated in
hindsight. Photography, especially that which explores reality, is a record of
that unique but universal response to the moment, it is la petite mort. That which is selected to be shown, is an insight into
the personality of the observer and has always been my primary interest. To unravel the
forces that motivate instinct is key to progress; these elements are the
undercurrent, the third dimension that exists beyond the conventional narratives and aesthetics.
Photography
exposes the level of personal progress of both the protagonist and the critic,
this is possible to read but is limited to our own unique understanding.
Grayson Perry recently mused at the Reith Lectures, (I’m paraphrasing) “I don’t get certain great artists now but I know
I will one day, but I am not there yet.” This is an acknowledgement that any
understanding of the world is imbued with the experience of the observer.
The
only real barrier to progress is cynicism. The element of doubt
over the authentic motives behind art is inevitable in such a broad church. Genuineness
however is the antidote; no matter how insane it cannot be faked and for me is the arbiter for identifying
work of value. It is defined by a relentless passion and belief for a concept
so immersing that it defeats the conventional ambition to succeed; it doesn’t
even have to be ‘good’. In fact, it’s quite important (relative to the established
rules of aesthetics), that it isn’t.
"There's
nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe
it." - William James (1842-1910)
To
make progress, one must actually ‘become’ more; progress must be made on a
fundamental level. As experience and knowledge expand, the perspective on the
shared universal space alters and there is a greater chance of developing a
unique signature in responding to the moment. It is inevitable and hugely rewarding, but it is a ‘Pandora’s
Box’. The alternative though is to be exposed to
the lowest possible common denominators that define society.
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| Image_3599, Woman with Grandmother's Curtains @ Richard Ansett 2014 |
