Keith Dotson’s industrial photography set is particularly interesting for its abstract interpretations of industrial areas
Paint Curls on an Antique Machine, Keith Dotson
Rusty Pipe Connection with Rivets, Historic Sloss Furnaces
Two Rusty Pipes, Keith Dotson
Row of Rusty Rings, Keith Dotson
Window of an Old Southern Textile Mill Built 1902, Keith Dotson
Round Door, Sloss Furnaces, Birmingham, Keith Dotson
Rusty Red Star – Wheel from an Antique Firetruck, Keith Dotson
Pipe Networks at Sloss Furnaces, Birmingham, Keith Dotson
Key Characteristics:
1. Textural Detail: Dotson’s work emphasizes the rough, worn surfaces of industrial elements, the rust, peeling paint, and aged metal. surfaces.
2. Black and white palette: His photographs are rended in black and white. Without vibrant color, it focuses attention on form, light, and shadow, which enhances the abstract feel of the pieces.
3. Geometric shapes: His photos features the angles of industrial architecture, with pipes, windows, and mechanical parts.
4. Minimalism and Simplicity: Dotson isolates a single subject, like a pipe or window allowing the viewer to focus on the form.
5. Lighting and Contrast: The use of stark lighting and natural sunlight enhances the feeling of abandonment and decay.
Connection to my vision:
I’ve chosen Keith Dotson as a photographer for my project because of his ability to transform industrial decay into abstract photographs which aligned with my vision. His focus on textures, shapes, explores the art behind industrial spaces. His elements like rusted pipes, peeling paint, or machinery parts is the aesthetic I want to take in the 798 Art District. His work inspired my approach to teture. His close-ups of rust and decay motivates me to focus on the surfaces found in old factory buildings. I will also focus on the shapes and lines of the architecture in 798.
Evaluation:
I choose this image because it transforms industrial objects into abstract forms. The focus on the connective with visible rivets draws attention to the materials and craftsmanship used in its construction. Its a example of how Dotson makes something like an old pipe into an object of artistic reflection. The rust and wear on the surface conveys a sense of age and abandonment. The weathered surface with dust contrasts with the smooth edges of the rivets.
Rusty Pipe Connection with Rivets, Historic Sloss Furnaces, Keith Dotson
Why I choose this image?
I chose this image because it highlights the beauty that is found in the forgotten elements of industrial spaces.
What do you find surprising or unusual about this photograph?
The details of the rivets and the contrasting textures of dust and metal challenges the viewer to see the aesthetic value of industrial materials.
Formal Elements: Texture
I think the most important element in the photograph is texture. The rough, aged surface of the rusted surface can be seen even under the dust layered on top of it. The visible layers of rust and wear shows time, showing the countless interactions it has endured. It makes the viewer look more closely, with details that is likely overlooked. The texture of the pipe shows how it endured neglect, weathered elements, etc. This makes the viewer think that it’s not just the physical state of the object.
