The 'Art' of tagging..

The art of tagging. It sounds like an oxymoron, but in reality it isn't. There is a real form and function behind the tag, and the style of the tag itself.

The book 'Flip The Script' would have to be one of the largest, commercially available "dictionaries" of hand styles and typography associated to tagging every created. The author Christian P. Acker states that 'Graffiti is one of the last strongholds of highly refined penmanship', and I would have to completely agree. The way and time these men and woman, boys and girls, dedicate to just writing a simple name is incredible. you can skim through thousands of videos on YouTube, watching these people practice and practice and evolving their tag.

I remember one artist stating he thought he wrote his tag over 100,000 times before he even tried to take it into the street. Even my own practice would total maybe 10,000 and I'm still not quite happy with the way it looks.

Here in Melbourne, our tagging and bombing scene is very low key and covert. It's very hard to get close to these artists, let alone photograph them or speak to them.  My dream would be to spend time getting to know some of the artists in Melbourne or Internationally, and discuss there respective styles and how it came about.

For me it would be a wonderful photographic project of not only subculture, but an insight into how typography has evolved.

Ian Strage at the NGV Melbourne

 

I have to admit something kinda silly here, I haven't heard of Ian Strange aka Kid Zoom before. I was at the NGV looking at this amazing graffiti covering the sides of houses, and a video of a house on fire, and I was awestruck.

I couldn't believe an artist could see the things he see's, and how he sees them. To quoted David Hurlston "SUBURBAN is a powerfully evocative and compelling body of work. Through his photographs and and videos Strange challenges the notion of the family home being a place of warmth and safety." and I have to admit, I agree intirely.

The work is powerful and haunting. standing there watching the burning house, you almost feel compelled to help. You are drawn in and thrown away, either in fear of the darkness of the images or wishing you could help those souls you think trapped and lost.

I implore anyone and everyone to visit the NGV and wander the exhibition while it is on..

Ian Strange 'SUBURBAN' will run from 27th July 2013-15th September 2013

Develop your OWN Black and White Film.. PLEASE!!

Yeah I shoot film a lot. I love the grain and detail it gives. I know that you can filter and muck around with digital to give the same feel, but why not go to the real thing straight away. 

The sad thing is that so many people have moved away from film, the art is being lost. for like $20-$50 you can get all the chemical and things you need to be able to develop a roll of black and white film yourself!!

I can guarantee it's tons more fun doing this yourself at home. Not only actually taking the photo, but doing the development yourself!! This is where the "art" of photography has fallen down over the years. Please click this pdf by Ilford Photo and do yourself a favor, learn a new technique and have more photographic fun!! 

Nikki Toole Exhibition.. Geelong Gallery Victoria

So I popped into the Nikki Toole exhibition today to look at what she has done with her Skater Portraits. 

They are lovely images. Inkjet Printed 24"x18" (63cm x 48cm) prints mounted into white board and timber frames, the images are strikingly pretty. The shading and tonal range is sublime, withe very deep velvety blacks and crisp clean whites. 19 black and white images make up the exhibition.

The prints are of Skaters from Melbourne and around the world. As far as the Czech Republic and as close as Fitzroy, we see how the skating subculture is not much different from place to place. The faces and expressions all seem similar and familiar. We connect to her subjects understanding the discomfort and shyness we all seem to have within. 

I would love to have seen some full portraits though. All of Nikki's work was shot with the riders lower legs and feet missing. Not having access to this information made me want to see how the riders were standing, and the position of their feet. I think this is why once I looked through the exhibition, I kinda felt left out of what she was trying to show. 

If you read form the poster "Curated by Dr Christopher Chapman, Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery, this special exhibition features 19 black and white photographic portraits that examine identity within skater culture. Toole asks whether there is a ‘global look’ or if there is still a place for the individual or the loner to express him or herself. She is driven by the desire to understand and commune with her subjects while exploring the forces of identity that define the lone skateboarder." I didn't really get any of this, well not from all the 19 images at least. 

Yes I would recommend you go see these images as they are lovely. You will need to make your own decision on the meaning and if they look into "Skater Culture" and show a "Global Look". 

For me..  I know what I would have, and will do, differently. There is a lack of connection to the subjects, and they all have a slightly tilted bored look. I would like to have seen a little more interaction, and more of what the skaters "space" looked like.

Anyway... Go see Skater Portraits by Nikki Toole on until September 9th.

Film Photography back in Vogue... It NEVER LEFT US!!

ABC Radio National had an interesting little blog/podcast today on Film Photography. 

Film Photography Back In Vogue is an "interesting" look into the world of film photography of today, compared to say 15 years ago. It's all a bit wired coming form the "mouth of babes" as well.

At the grand old age of 41 (yeah I know) I have known film for a long time, and this Digital Thing is still pretty new to me. I still manage a small darkroom in my house developing my own Black and White film and might even hit out a few prints next year if I can get the gear on board.

But to almost claim that film is "New" or in a "Revival" is almost ludicrous.

Kodak started in 1888 (or there about's as that was the first camera from them) and FujiFilm have been on the ground and running for almost 80 years. These are probably two of the most common names in film, and the most recognized. With over 100years of history, why would we think Film to be a new medium?

What we lack now is the Master Printer. The Master Printer would take a negative from you with the changes you wanted made, and print an image that would make you smile. The knowledge and technical skill in printing an image from a negative has been all but lost in most instances. A lot of the chemicals are even quite hard to get and can be quite toxic if used incorrectly. There was talk of photographers and their assistants (in the 60's and 70's) popping amphetamines and drinking some of the chemicals (yes DRINKING). Mind you the prints these men were striking were AMAZING. They could recoil the the White and control the Dark in a wondrous ballet of Alchemy.

In this world of perfection, sanitized images of pure sharpness and clarity can bore us. We need to not go back, but reignite the passion for our "Hands On" technical aspect. We rely to much on Digital Mediums and have lost the tactile aspect that is associated with photography. Yes I agree that there is a resurgence in Film, and younger photographers are finding something more "organic" in the use.

But the reality is that film is soft and lovely. There is a "by gone era" feel the images take on. It takes a little more technical knowledge to shoot, but the image that you see is something to take your breath away. Modern Masters (Joel would giggle at being Modern) of photography like Meyerowitz, Crewdson, and Wall  are all avid film shooters. Regardless of format, people should be looking to shoot and develop there own Black and White film. It's a great feeling to make something, to take the photo and create the negative, then have a way to print the image. This is what art really is.

Yes Digital has its place. I still love my digital camera for a lot of my shooting it works. But there really is something soft and special about film.

I implore you all to go out there and open your minds. Get a film camera and teach yourself to develop the film. It's really satisfying.

3070 Northcote..... Getting you to Art Up!!

highstreetnorthcote.com.au is the place to go. 

It's a playful way to discover local art and artists, as well as keeping the community spirit alive..

If ya don't know the past, how can you predict the future?

I though today I would talk a little about knowledge. 

I was sitting around the other day looking at my bookcase and could only think "Shit you have a lot of books".. I think I could almost open a small library just with my stuff. But I couldn't get over how many were Art or Photography books. I  have a MASSIVE amount of books on most of the classic painters and artists like Monet, Rubens, Botticelli, right through to photographers like Ansel Adams, Ed Ruscha, William Eggleston, and everything and one in between. I use these as my Bibles. I spend my days trawling through websites looking and learning what everyone else is doing, and if and how I would do it different.

I'm of the opinion that if you don't know the past, how can you see in the future. 

I don't think there is a Newsagent or corner store I walk past that I don't stop and look through all the photography books and magazines. Checking the ones I haven't seen yet for anything that I might be conjuring up myself. 

Art is something that evolves around ideas from the past, that reflect to the future. I'm not sure how many times we can do the same thing, but as long as our twist takes it to a new level, there will always be new art.. 

Is it a product shot, or is it to "Arty" for that?

Well I think it's time to start a little more talk.. 

I have tossed around the idea of  doing a few product shots, not only for more practice, but just to build a portfolio of a salable style and an expansion of my talents.

This is a shot I started to practice with on Sunday. Out of about 7 shots, I chose this one based simply on it's position in the frame and clarity of the shot. It has a lovely High Key playful background; really crispy crunchy tones and contrast; and some interesting shadow in the shift lever blade.  

But I beg to ask, is it a product shot or is it to "Arty"??

shimano_lever, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Four beats to the bar and no Cheating..

I have to say that if you know anything about Modern Photographers or Art and the name David Bailey doesn't pop up, I would be shocked..

He has seen and done more than any of us would ever imagine. His portraits are just sublime. His art takes on an unusual dark sinister look, but remaining distinctly beautiful at the same time. They are so Picasso like, just dreamy and wonderful. His playful nature seems to bring a quality out of his subjects that NO ONE ELSE could even get.

He is truly a man that should be revered..

Take Photography Magazine... A must Buy!!

I often flick through the magazines at the local News Agent (or News Stand) and they all have the same kinda feel to them. The are made from this flimsy ugly shinny paper that gets damaged as soon as you pop it into your bag, and the photos inside... Well we will leave it there.. All that "cookie cutter" styled photography that all looks the same on every page, or it's just really ordinary and you close the magazine in disgust wondering why you spent $10 on information you could have just as easily got of the net..

But then you see Take Photo Mag and you realize others have the same wish for a quality publication. A publication that looks fantastic with a HARD COVER and wonderful photography from people all around the world..

This is an AMAZING book.. Issue 2 (which is already available in Australia) is just as beautiful..

Rose Street Artists' Market

I have not had a confirmation of dates yet, but I'm pretty sure it's all OK..

I will be re appearing at The Rose Street Artists' Market every second Saturday for 5 dates starting 28th April..