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Photographing flowers - is a high risk proposition for a photographer. There is always danger of complacency and trivialization lurking around. You can literally get caught in grass and leafs and let the subjects of the shoot prevail over the overall objective. It is too tempting to let these expressions of natural art form to lead you astray. However the desire to make those photographs, at times becomes unbearable. Especially when the subject itself takes a back sit and you see something that is difficult to notice from the first sight.

«What’s in the void?» ©,Anastasiy Safari. 4 fotos from a series of 6. 12×16″, matte paper. Photocopy.

A honorable mention at International Photography Awards ‘2008 (IPA 2008).
This worldwide award has more than 30,000 participants this year from all over the world.

Since I first heard about LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) in 2006, I always wanted to visit it. When I fulfilled my dream, I was not disappointed. If nothing else, that experience opened my eyes to contemporary art. I would describe my state of mind after going to the museum as a cultural shock. I wouldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy everything that I saw and experienced there, but LACMA’s expose of contemporary art that was on display last June really surprised and even frustrated me. Before going to LACMA, I was familiar with some modern artworks and was expecting to see something that will look like the Pablo Picasso display at J. Paul Getty Museum (a lot of expression, not much to discuss). But, much to my surprise, the last generation of contemporary artists gone even farther afield. They don’t even try to make their masterpieces look like something that could be exhibited. Some artworks that I saw at LACMA, if they were decomposed, would never remind anyone of any piece of art.

The first showpiece I saw was an installation. Everything took place in an isolated room with sparkling walls and loud techno. The spectators watched the video that was dedicated to nothing and, therefore, made no sense. My next stop was in front of the wall all spangled with small carton cards. The slogans that were written on cartons proclaimed, ”Buy one taco and get the second one free,” and other ordinary things that we, consumers, see each day. Maybe it symbolized the meaninglessness of our existence. When I felt that it was time for something more predictable, I went to LACMA’s permanent exposition. There I saw René Magritte’s “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” and, by the irony, I felt much better in front of this surrealistic painting. As any art nonpro, I always feel more comfortable in front of the creations that someone already classified and explained.

Sasha

Американский Журнал

Our readers are already sending us e-mails!
We decided to publish here one of the more interesting e-mails.

The post “Agent’s Bias: Digital Photography as Fine Art” had generated an interesting comments and discussion on the of what is Fine Art Photography. What qualities a Photographer should posses? Where does the craft of the artist end and the creativity begins? Examples have moved on from photography to painting and even cinema…

Consequently I have received an e-mail from one of the visitors. I believe that it deserves a blog entry of its own (my answer is in comments):

While I was reading the commentary to the “Agent’s Bias: Digital Photography as Fine Art” I can not shake a thought that your view on the process of creation an Artwork are too narrow. You look at all of the questions from a professional point of view and parse them in the same fashion. This gives me an impression that you forget about the whole of the artwork.

As a user I can never explain why I like one artwork or another. You just look at it and either immediately say “Oh, man!”, or just pass right by it with out noticing. This in my opinion is the sole value of art. There are no other criterion for an amateur. There is a historic value, when you think there is nothing special to it, but who would have thought that they were capable of such a feat 3 thousand years ago. You forget that it is POSSIBLE to look at an artwork with out having any knowledge of its creator. I can no nothing about De Vinci, but when I see his work in Louvre I would gasp from excitement or possibly would not have any reaction at all…

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Read More…

Buying for the sake of location.

We are continuing our exploration on buying art. A number of artworks be it stitching, water colors or photography is exchanged for “all-accepted” little green works of art due to their hometown apeal. Pardon my description, but dollars are exquisite works of mass produced art. Coming back to the hometown appeal. An artwork could be well framed mediocre shot of a well known local high-rise that symbolises a city of one kind or the other. If the city is admired by many you can find that image successfully sold in a local gift shop. Otherwise it is a purview of locals that would not live their town even in a case of a nuclear strike.

A somewhat sad reality of this artwork is that it is often a mediocre depiction that is valued more for it’s symbolism then for it’s artistic quality. If the artwork is made by a local artist this landmark had become such an eyesore for him that he had possibly lost all fresh perspective. If it is a well known location then all pervasive precooked images have often poisoned any possibility of a fresh look by a visiting artist. 

Shown here is a relatively common look at Cleveland, OH. Showing big city lights, its sea port features. This image is relatively common show of landmarks and skyline. There is an impressive line up of images on the web as well as a line up available for sale that tries to portray Cleveland in this same light. Multiple pictures of same landmarks in different light and with varying backdrops.These images carry a worn out appeal and are purchased in mass primarily for their symbolism and not their aesthetic value.

It is possible to take the city out of it’s usual used up context and put it into a different light that will either retain or enhance city’s character. Since these posts are in part shameless promotion of Safari’s art work, allow me to use one of his Cleveland images as an example.

The following image is a take on a well known statue that in a way became associated with Cleveland. This symbol of the city has been, you may say, heavily abused.But this simple fresh perspective although made just for fun adds to the reality ofthe statue. It enhances the vision of this work of art and at the same time personifies it.

This next work is en example that is ways away from Cleveland…

This symbol of New York city is a very well known and photographed landmark. I am sure you have seen myriads of pictures that portray this symbol our great nation of United States of America. However this is a daring take on this symbol of great power. This portrayal is rather depressing and some might say relatively negative, yet it does not denigrate the symbol itself. There are no horns on writings on the statue, it is simply taken in it’s context on this grey day in March. Its surroundings enhance its meaning in this troublesome times. 

I hope to have made a sufficient amount of one sided claims here to evoke a responce and a counter argument from the audience. See farther posts that describe other reasons why people purchase art.

On that first show of ours, we were displaying photo pictures full of hidden meaning and links to known philosophical concepts. It’s a pity, but that was not understood by all. One of the critics even wrote a thought that all titles to the works were random. That’s not right, dear Zachary Lewis. And I doubt if the meaning in Art should lie on the top of surface. So I’ll demonstrate a work that was immediately understood:

“The Infernal Smile Of Moscow”, 3×1.7m, Copyprint on matte photopaper. Photoprocessed.

Shows that uncommon look on the city, that you will never find in prospects, but it can be felt by anyone who comes into collision with concrete jungles of any megapolis, and catches its eye…. I wanted to share this feeling of a man who once found himself in the front of this one-eyed infernal scamp. 

She was our first break through. The conversation started with usual “hiding” behind the galleries mission. “The goal of our gallery is to promote local artists.”, she said. Unlike her words, her demeanor kept me thinking positively. ” This artist has difficult time of going local in Moscow.” I pleaded. “He is not about glory of Russia , he is not an epitome of post soviet art. He is honestly looking for his voice, which makes it close to impossible to show him in Russia.” Her stare moved between me and his portfolio in front of her. ” I have been either given a run around by a number of galleries. There is gallery guide full of them and no where to go.” I closed. “Have you seen my gallery? It has a purple floor.” she replied. At that moment I realized that this will be my first show.

Annex Gallery is a relatively bizarre shaped room at the heart of eclectic book store. We were fortunate enough to be the first ones to put up a show on a brand new hanging system. Cables suspended from a rail near the ceiling allowed us to arrange the pieces and fit them into the space. Primary light source during the day is the sun coming in through the windows above. Clearly not an ideal situation, but I did not care to complain.

Harriet Logan - the book store owner and manager is a very accessible person.  My neurotic calls about promotions, arrangements, store front display and every other little thing were pleasantly replied to and generally tolerated. I was able to roam freely and come and go during business hours as I pleased.

There was a downside to this ordeal. I had to self-promote. Little to no promotion was done for the show and so the opening night was pretty empty. However this was the space where I could invite my family, friends and coworkers to see the show and that was a great starting point.

As I was taking the show down I had a sentimental moment. Taking the last framed photograph out of the book store I walked surrounded by varnished bookshelves full of older books and rear prints. I was turning the page on the first chapter of Safari art shows and planing for many more pages to come.

ILYa

This might come as a surprise to some, but many casual browsers and potential buyers frown at the proposition of Digital Photography as a Fine Art. In fact I am fairly certain that some of you reading this passage find yourself in agreement with this notion.

Allow me to take a stab at this concept. I hope to see it bleed to a point that will allow you to see through the prejudice of a tool to an essence of an art work.

For this installment I would like to discuss the supposed ease of image alteration. Any owner of Cannon Digital Elf or any other point and shoot camera knows that Picasa’s “I Feel Lucky” button along with crop and sharpen features can take their digital snaps quite far along. Face recognition features in inexpensive digital cameras allow for wonderful family photos. This inevitably breeds a false perception that an observer could just as easily have taken the snapshot presented to him in a frame at a premium price.

A true craftsmen of the digital photography realm simply exchanges the red light of the dark room for the set of LED back-lights at his computer monitor. Complexity of analog photography is no longer an obstacle to achieving the final vision and style of the artist. Even though the artist can take thousands of snaps with out a penalty of forbidding costs there is still more then enough risk, chance and expertise in the photo-hunt.

Read the next post in this series to appreciate the complexity of the digital photographer’s craftsmanship.

ILYa

Every honest opinion is slanted towards writer’s personal interest and sprinkled with generalities. To make this modestly entertaining I have no intention of stray from this beaten path.

I firmly believe that people should buy art. This is something that should be done regularly and that this is something that general population needs to get good at.

There seems to be no authority on taste, so it is aught to be close to impossible to determine a good art buy from an aesthetic stand point. In this series “Agent’s Bias: buying art” I am going to muse on the subject of this unknown.

ILYa

I am ILYa GotFRYd,

an agent and a manager of Anastasiy Safari in United States. We have been partnering with Anastasiy for several years now and had our share of successes. Coming up are some pieces on the perspectives of agent work and art buying. Questions and comments are welcome.

Sincerely,

ILYa GotFRYd.

Welcome to the new art photography blog!
My name is Anastasiy and here, with my art agent and friends as well will post various beautiful pictures, clever thoughts on art and much much more!

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