essay about art

Artist Statement- The Struggle

Throughout the ten week span of this course, I developed a sense of art through camera

lens capturing images of certain frames that express different types of feelings, mentally and

within. Through my photography, I gravitated towards capturing images by focusing on natural

light, and focused on images that capture frames in different perspectives. This allowed me to

capture certain frames from normal or relatively odd point of view. I asked different people as

subjects in each photograph. Moving around campus, I was inspired by different architecture and

unique viewpoints to be able to capture images that are captured in an out of the ordinary figure.

I also focused on facial expression set in different lightings, which was used to either express or emphasize the scene and mood for the image. The purpose of ​The Struggle

​ is to reflect on how people feel during obstacles. I chose this topic as it relates to me in my mental, feeling out of

place or “not right” in common eyes, and make the audience turn their head and focus on the

unique framing. The expressions of the subjects express different feelings that enable the

audience to ponder upon the emotions and mood with the subject. I attempted to create different

light settings in the photos as well, to enhance either a warm, cold, or confusing mood for each

subject.

I gained most of my inspiration from artist Susan Meiselas, who focuses a lot of her

photography on social documentation. Meiselas presents images based on subjectified women

and mayhem in cities with men as the subjects in the photos. I gained my inspiration from her

photography as she focuses on complications that people are faced with. I noticed the photos

with female subjects present more emotion have instill different moods. For example, an image

of young females smoking a cigarette, or her famous work “Carnival Strippers.” My thought on

these images make me wonder what caused the females to smoke cigarettes at a young age, but

in a deeper concept how females feel like objects to men and society and are judged based on the

looks of their body. Many of her work presents images of men in a tarnished background that

seems to be from a city. This may be an image that represents how male subjects cause mayhem

and issues for females. I used deeper insight when evaluating her work before being my major

inspiration of photography since it allowed me to ponder upon the backstory of her photos and

connect how female identifiers feel surrounded by men.

Another heavy influence of my work comes from artist Tod Papageorge. Papageorge

focused his photography on street photography. I was extremely influenced by his work because

I enjoy street photography aesthetics.In a way, his photography focuses mostly on candid shots

of subjects in a variety of settings. His black and white images and nude-style colored photo

create a “throwback” feeling that I really enjoy. His photography inspired me to choose my topic

by capturing small frames of subjects that make the audience wonder and wanting more from an

image. The candid shots also seem more natural, which really grabbed my attention. In my work,

my attempt took place to capture images of subjects “acting natural” which also reflected their

mood during the time. Although some image may seem staged, the process was captured to focus

on subjects when asked about a topic and a change in their reaction naturally occurred, thus,

allowing me to capture the image. Papageorge created a natural mood in his photos and does not

create the impression that these photos may have been staged. In my work, I attempted to create

the same natural scenarios as well.

Partaking in my final portfolio, my attempt was to create and capture images of

struggling moments. By doing so, I wanted to capture mental aspects of photography, how you

can feel as if your life has turned upside down, or can’t think straight. Another mood captured

from the subjects are the facial expressions, with my constant state of feeling depressed, but also

feeling genuine happiness. The image of the planter with the smiling face is most symbolic, since

its a creation of a fake smile to mask away pain. Another symbolic image is the upside down

man falling and the distorted angle trapped in a triangle. This personally represents not being

able to think straight at times, and feeling weak and trapped. Most importantly, I utilized light to

my advantage in these photos. In some, darkness is the focus in the back and emphasizes the

subjects. However, the images of the man reaching towards light is symbolic in having faith, and

following the light as guidance. The subject relaxing in the tree as a seat looking towards the

light is the most powerful image, creating the feeling of a safe and happy place and knowing that

the strong connection with faith will give guidance and lead to true happiness. My aspirations

from these photos were to create personal feelings to connect to the audience with people who

face mental obstacles, but have guidance to find their happiness and successes. My photography

creates some type of flutatued themes, but the purpose was to portray indecisive thoughts behind

obstacles that overall instill uneasy feelings, but finding light at the end of obstacles for peace.

This course allowed me to artistically express my personal experience in life, and allow

others to view my feelings through photographs of beautiful struggles that lead to happiness in

the end, and I could not be any more grateful for this opportunity to do so.