Visit to "What's Left Behind" exhibition by Andrew Morris, a recent graduate in Photography in the Arts degree from University of Wales Trinity St. David and a recipient of the Wales International Young Artists Award.
Location: Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff - cafe area
Date of visit: 18th May 2014.
Location: Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff - cafe area
Date of visit: 18th May 2014.
This was an exhibition of 16 images of ordinary domestic house interiors, removed of physical presence except for remaining personal possessions, following the passing of the owner, isolating a moment of time. The white walls, cream carpets and pale wallpapers makes the space look bigger, emphasising the absence of the owner from the room.
Morris wants us to contemplate the nature of our own home and our personal relationship within our home. In some of the images he uses the doorway as a framing device creating a threshold between here and there, representing a shift in time. The emptiness of these photographs post human occupation does make one wonder about our own homes and how they will be after we pass on. Can we depersonalise our own homes - maybe remove all things personal to revert the house to a shell or maybe a 'show home' with no personal identity? We then leave it in a virgin state for the next owner.
Technically the photographs were well composed, focussed, rather pale in colour (as the author intended), good use of natural lighting but unbalanced with outside natural lighting through the doors and windows where the exterior was burnt out. Maybe this was intended. I wondered what the photographs would have been like printed in black and white and whether the author had considered this. It might have increased the contrast and drama of the display perhaps. I subsequently found his website and there are a set of further images from the project in black and white. I like these. Morris achieved his aim in my case as it did get me contemplating the nature of my own home and my personal relationship within the home environment.
Morris wants us to contemplate the nature of our own home and our personal relationship within our home. In some of the images he uses the doorway as a framing device creating a threshold between here and there, representing a shift in time. The emptiness of these photographs post human occupation does make one wonder about our own homes and how they will be after we pass on. Can we depersonalise our own homes - maybe remove all things personal to revert the house to a shell or maybe a 'show home' with no personal identity? We then leave it in a virgin state for the next owner.
Technically the photographs were well composed, focussed, rather pale in colour (as the author intended), good use of natural lighting but unbalanced with outside natural lighting through the doors and windows where the exterior was burnt out. Maybe this was intended. I wondered what the photographs would have been like printed in black and white and whether the author had considered this. It might have increased the contrast and drama of the display perhaps. I subsequently found his website and there are a set of further images from the project in black and white. I like these. Morris achieved his aim in my case as it did get me contemplating the nature of my own home and my personal relationship within the home environment.