When it comes how I want to approach my still life images Angela Blažanović ‘s work comes to mind.
When it comes to how I want to approach my still life images, Angela Blažanović ‘s work comes to mind. Her frank and straightforward style was what initially caught my attention, but as continued to observe the images, I began to appreciate how she constructed the objects that she found into beautiful and temporary sculptures, which give them a new sense of life and brings awareness to how much in our life comes and goes and how much we discard at our convenience when it does not suit us. She also draws attention to pollution and how we influence the landscape with it. Speaking of how the project develops she sates;
During this first visit I came across all these random objects; things people had either lost or thrown away. This litter had seemingly become part of the landscape itself. I felt a strong fascination for those objects and started imagining the stories that lay behind them. The project really developed from there; I started experimenting with ways of shooting the objects that would put them in a new context and make the viewer revaluate their existence.
And, although it was not my initial intent for the project, the theme of plastic pollution and environmentalism naturally came up very quickly. I started doing more research and learned about the Anthropocene, the theory that humans have introduced a new geological era on earth. I became interested in the idea that a landscape could speak of the humans it inhabits.
It made sense to let the project dictate the message, to research this current issue further and incorporate it in the work; and possibly even have a positive impact on it.
Two points that resonated with me is how she wanted to present the found object in a way that would bring awareness and make the viewer reevaluate their impact on the planet— something I wish to highlight in my work. The Other point is that she brings up Anthropocene also something I think is already a theme in within my work, but feel I could bring it forward a little more within my still life.
Fig 1 : Fragments of a River, 2019 Angela Blažanović
Fig 2,3,4 : Fragments of a River, 2019 Angela Blažanović
Reference:
Hamada, J., 2020. Booooooom X Capture Photography Festival: Angela Blažanović Interview. [online] BOOOOOOOM!. Available at: <https://www.booooooom.com/2020/05/15/booooooom-x-capture-photography-festival-angela-blazanovic-interview/> [Accessed 5 August 2020].