Those of you who know me or are familiar with my work are aware that my subject matter tends to go in two directions. What has been featured most often on this blog is my surrealist portraiture (for lack of a better description).
The other side of coin are the works I create that are more abstract representations of loss or absence. These photographs are infinitely more difficult to conceptualize, produce and understand (in that they play on gut reactions rather than literal interpretations). These have continually dealt with my own personal narrative, but I long to learn and engage with the stories of others.
So I'm putting this out there for whom ever may be reading this, please consider collaborating with me on this new project:I hope to interview people about the one thing they long for, and wish to invite back into their homes and lives, despite the improbability of this happening.
We would talk about the person/feeling/part of themselves that they would want to (as trite as this may sound) tie a yellow ribbon around the oak tree for (I don't mean that new "I've got a decal on my bumper" sort of meaning, I'm referring to the older symbol of inviting the husband or lover that was nearly lost to prison or military service back into your life)
As well as discussing what their personal symbols or remembrance are.
I would then create a small self contained shrine based on what comes out of these conversations, and give it to the person to display in their window. I would then come by and photograph the instillation from time to time.
I am really excited about the possibilities of this ambitious project and hope that a few people out there are inspired as well. Please contact me if you want to participate and we can go from there.
I am including in this post a work in progress version of my own personal shrines.
P.S. Go see the Nomads show at the
NGC.
Geoffrey Farmer. Wow. I don't want to say anymore, you have to experience it.
