Artist Introduction

Photographic Style

Aaron Siskind’s art aims to mirror Abstract Expressionist painting (“How Aaron Siskind Found Abstraction…”). His unique art style eliminated pictorial space, with “concentration on the arrangement of objects within the picture plane” (“Aaron Siskind”). Notably, he would close in on subjects, removing distracting elements to enhance “emotional sense” or an “allusive aspect”, condensing the energies of the subjcets he photographed (“Aaron Siskind”)

Artistic Vision

Notably, Aaron siskind photographed recognizable places to create a new way of “communicating ideas, feeling, and perpsectives on life and history” (“Aaron Siskind”) and to capture the “drama of objects” (How Aaron Siskind Found Abstraction…). His pictures have often been described as poetic, conceptual, embodying themes of decay, fragmentation, and regeneration (“Aaron Siskind”)

Artist Gallery

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Photographic Style

1. Black and White gradients
2. isolated exploration of texture\shape\line
3. some emphasis on near repetition
4. shows a singular plane (2D). Some elements might have an obvious 3D element, such as Jerome, Arizona 21, but they all exist on a seemingly isolated 2D plane
5. even focus, no manipulation of focus

I like how Aaron Siskind’s photographs are very atmospheric. Even though he didn’t create the things he photographed (e.g. the peeling paint), he makes it look so much more artistic than one would think peeling paint on a moulding wall would be. Also, he creates a nice balance of different textures, making the scene varied but also not unbalanced.

Quotation

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”

I like this quote as its Aaron Siskind’s own interpretation of photography. Through the quote, we can understand how he really emphasizes and respects the medium of photography. From his description of how what you capture on film stays forever, I feel like he really reveres each snap of the camera shutter.

Furthermore, what he says about photography capturing “little things” connects back to his artistic style. Almost everyone has had fleeting moments where they walk by, for example, some torn paper posters, and just ignored it as unimportant and moved on. However, Aaron Siskind would be able to see these “little things” and through an artists’ eyes see the beauty in the undervalued and mundane, using them to compose a work of art.

Inspiration

Aaron Siskind inspires me in many ways. The way he treats his art, as seen from the quote, is one that is purposeful, intentional, and perceptive. I feel like that is the way I want to take photography as well. I think his emphasis on capturing the “little things” is also one that is significant. It’s part of what makes some art abstract, as you are showing the world from a unique perspective, and it gives me inspiration for how I can find my subject. For example, while other people might try to take pictures of landmark buildings and structures, I could try to reframe things in a different way to show a different perspective.

Also, in my statement of intent, I mentioned that I wanted to capture distinct features of a specific landmark. I think that Aaron Siskind does something similar, as he focuses on photographing interesting aspects of a location, and then names his photograph after that location. I think his emphasis on the “little things” will help me focus on some truly intriguing part of 798 that show some of its characteristics. Furthermore, Aaron Siskind’s art conveys similar to themes to what I want to show in my triptych, such as regeneration and the joy of viewing everyday, unnoticed objects as a subjejct of art. His final pieces also feel authentic and carry a “feeling of the world”; even though the pictures are intentionally framed as 2D slices, you can feel so much texture that you know its rooted in a real life place, unlike some other artists that photograph repetition and texture.

One Photo Analysis

Why did I choose this image?

I chose this image firstly because it is representative of Aaron Siskind’s style: framing subject as a 2-dimensional slice, shows different textures’ interaction on a peeling wall; the subject is not anything glamorous, but somehow the way the different paper and font sizes fit together is intriguing to the audience. I think that this style could also be carried over to 798, as 798 is known for having interesting brick walls and walls with graffiti on them.

What do I find surprising or unusual about this photograph?

I find it surprising that Aaron Siskind was able to balance the textures of the different papers so artistically. A lot of people might see the papers, but only a small fraction would take time to inspect it, and an even smaller fraction to stay and take a picture of it. But even then, its hard to make flimsy, cheap, half torn paper look well.

Choose a formal element and explain why it is important

Texture. I think its evident that its the most intriguing aspect of the photograph. The interaction between and combination of different paper textures shows what Aaron Siskind calls the “drama of objects”, and especially the peeling of the paper shows the theme of fragmentation and possible regeneration and rebirth through ascending normalcy and being immortalized in a photograph.

Quotations