Event 1 | Light, Paper, Process: Reinventing Photography | @ The Getty Center

For my first event I decided to go to see some exhibitions at the Getty Center, having never been there before. While the design of the museum was amazing, out of the many exhibits at the Getty, one especially caught my attention, the Light, Paper, Process: Reinventing Photography exhibition featuring the works of Matthew Brandy, Marco Breuer, John Chiara, Chris McCaw, Lisa Oppenheim, Alison Rossiter, and James Welling. Unfortunately, photographs were not allowed inside the exhibit, so I took note of any piece that I found interesting, and attempted to find pictures of them online. 

Figure 1 - Me at the Getty Museum Entrance

Figure 2 - Me at the Getty Information Desk

Figure 3 - Exhibition Entrance (no photos allowed)

This exhibition focuses on experimentation with photography; not things like changing aperture or shutter speed on a digital camera, but physically exploring and investigating photography’s “essential materials”. This includes experimentation with the chemical processing of photographic paper, photogram and solarization techniques, or even building home-made cameras with specialized lenses.

What this exhibit really reminds me of is the Two Cultures section of this class because of the contrast between these physical experimental works of photographic art and the Instagram-style, random filters photography that has become so popular nowadays. For example, John Chiara hand-built a huge camera which he then physically entered, using his hands to burn and dodge the image to achieve an effect that I thought only possible through filters. 

Figure 4 - Mirador at San Pablo, 2008 by John Chiara
http://mpdrolet.tumblr.com/post/6979152395/mirador-at-san-pablo-2008-john-chiara

Marco Breuer, on the other hand, subjected light sensitive paper to abrasion, burning, and scraping of the emulsion layer, making his pieces look very abstract. I found it hard to believe that these weren't created using digital technology, and I think I liked his work the most because of that.

Figure 5 - Untitled (C-539), 2005 by Marco Breuer
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/marco-breuer-untitled-c-539

Figure 6 - Untitled (C-1214), 2012 by Marco Breuer

Alison Rossiter created her work using one of the most interesting methods which was to use expired photographic paper instead of cameras or film.  As you can see below, traces of old on the surface created the effect of “cloud-strewn skies” which appeared so natural. 

Figure 7 - Eastman Kodak Azo F4, expired February 1922, processed in 2010 (#1) by Alison Rossiter
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/alison-rossiter-eastman-kodak-azo-f4-expired-february-1922-processed-in-2010-number-1

What I find so interesting is how these pieces were not Photoshopped or digitally touched in any way; everything was achieved through hands-on trial and error. In this day and age, photography has become so much more digitalized; it is almost a requirement for good photographers to be able to utilize Photoshop to make their photographs more artistic. These artists, however, have defied the predominant norm of using digital technology, and have proved that using practical methods to manipulate their pictures have just the same capability to inspire and awe their viewers. Many times I found myself amazed that such works could even be created without the use of digital editing, and learning about how each piece was made just inspired me more. This exhibit undoubtedly furthered my understanding of Two Cultures because of the similarities and differences I could see between digitally-altered and physical-manipulated photographs by artists working today. 

Citations

• Heckert, Virginia, Marc Harnly, and Sarah Freeman. Light, Paper, Process: Reinventing Photography. Illustrated ed. N.p.: Getty Publications, 2015. Web. 17 May 2015.