Uta Barth

Characteristics in Barth’s Work

• Lack of focus. In Barth’s work, a common trend is the image being out of focus. This can be seen in most of her work, removing the connection to the subject being captured and highlighting a moment or occasion that we rarely pay attention to. I think this is the stand-out characteristic of Barth’s work and emphasizes the lighting within the image. By eliminating any proper subject, there is a distinct highlighting of the area or space, more specifically, the mood of the image, which creates a deeper and more inspiring message.
• Highlights shapes in the image. This is an element of abstract photography, adding coherence to the image through the separation into shapes. Because of Barth’s distinct lack of clarity and focus in her photographs, the shape of buildings and areas have a larger focus in the picture. This is important as it creates abstraction within Barth’s photography, highlighting elements within the image instead of objects that are captured.
• Highlights lines in the image. Another element of abstract photography, Barth’s use of lines draws eyes and creates a capture point in her photographs. Through the use of bold and thin lines, Barth is able to direct the audience to sections of her images, creating a new subject rather than purely the one captured in the picture. This is important the Barth’s images as it transforms the image away from the original object/person/place, instead creating new focal points in the photograph, moving the eye away from the ordinary to a deeper idea.
• Warm tones. The values and tones within her photographs create a sense of memory and nostalgia which, for me at least, drew in the audience. The common warm lighting also creates comfort in her images and makes all of her pieces more put together. Barth’s characteristic is important to her work because it brings together her message and intent within her work. Barth’s photography goals include capturing simple moments, and I find the warm tones and lighting allow the audience to better connect with her pieces.
• Captures simple objects. This characteristic connects to warm tones and nostalgia, as it highlights memories associated with objects. I find the characteristic is slightly reminiscent of straight photography as they both align with capturing the everyday or ordinary. This is important to Barth’s photography as it integrates an aspect of abstraction, capturing ordinary or plain things from a different perspective.

Reason for Selection

I chose Uta Barth as photographic inspiration because, from the first time I saw one of her photos, I was drawn to her style. To capture simple moments so beautifully, in my opinion, is quite special, as life itself is both simple and special. Because of these attributes, I added many of her pictures to my mindmap (shown in a previous blog post), which subsequently contributed to my artistic intent. My intent during the 798 trip is to connect personal feelings to photos of the Beijing contemporary art district. Whilst I do not expect the audience to reminisce on their entire life story while looking at a foreign photograph, I would like the audience to feel a connection to the image through the simple composition and framing, similar to Barth’s images. Barth uses simple yet effective techniques in her photography to create thoughtful images, which I would like to try to recreate myself.

“Images of nothing, just empty grounds, walls and fields and sky… what I aim for in my work today was present long before I could name it.” – Uta Barth

I chose this quotation because I found it best explained her photography style. I think this quotation best explains Barth’s photography style because of the contents of her photographs. Typically, her images are those that you can find in any area of one’s life: paintings on a wall, a car stopping when the light is red, and the sunlight above a couch. Before Barth “could name” or capture these moments, they were already “present” yet not noticed, romanticised or understood.

Analysing Barth’s Photography

•Why did you choose this image in particular?

I chose this image because it reminds me of my bedroom. I, too, have a light teal-coloured wall with a couple of small images on it that relate to my family and childhood. The image itself reminds me of moving out of a childhood home – the emptiness of the room, the light, the childish colour of the room and the simple furniture. The central point of the picture is a completely blank wall, showing the lonely and desolate room.

•What do you find surprising or unusual about this photograph?

I find it unusual that the colours within the image are cool tones but in my opinion, the image is still warm. I also find it interesting how the image is just out of focus to the point that you can make out the subject of the picture frames ever so slightly as if Barth wants you to look into her life.

•Look carefully and choose ONE of the Formal Elements that you think is important in the photograph (E.g. Focus, Light, Line, Repetition, Shape, Texture, Value/Tone).

•Describe why you think it is important (2 or 3 sentences)

I think the use of tone and value are important to the photograph. The emotion conveyed is kind of bittersweet, which may be why there is a slight vignette, creating lighter values in the centre of the picture and darker values at the outside of the image. I think that the values used in the photograph are important because they directly contrast the warm values that are used in Barth’s other pictures. I also think that the use of tone and value in the image is important because they help create the lonely, desolate, and bittersweet emotions present, which create a scenario in the audience’s mind as to when this image was taken or how it can relate to the audience’s experiences.

•In what ways are your chosen artist’s photographs abstract?

I think Uta Barth’s photographs are abstract because the images challenge the expectation of photography in their blurred composition whilst challenging the audience’s ability to see the world around them. By challenging a privilege that many people have (the ability to see), Barth creates a reaction further than “oh that’s a cool photo” and instead invokes thought from her different perspective of the world around us.

•What do you like about the style? Be specific and explain your answer.

I like the blurred composition and style. I like this element of Barth’s style because it sets her apart from other photographers whilst letting the audience question what exactly is being captured in the image.

•How will you adapt this style to your own photography? How does the image/artist inspire YOU?

I will adapt this style by capturing the 798 Art District with a distinct lack of focus in my images. Uta Barth inspires me to capture typical moments and objects in my life and the lives of others around me in a simple yet beautiful manner in order to truly appreciate the moments around me.

Revised Vision Statement

My vision is to create personal images that the audience can connect to. I will take photos in the style of Uta Barth. I am particularly inspired by a variety of Barth’s work and will try to take pictures that highlight the simplicity of life and its beauty.