Constructed Realities: Artist Research

"Henry Moore, London 1943" by Lee Miller

This is the image that was assigned to me to research for constructed realities. This photo was taken in an underground station in Holborn. There is a very dramatic use of light in this photo that falls on the main subjects face as well as from the top of the stairwell to really illuminate the subjects in the background as well. This dramatic use of light really adds to the depth and texture of the drapery in the photo. Henry Moore was a wartime artist at this time and is pictured here with many people seated and sleeping behind him, perhaps taking cover from war? I just find it interesting as to why everyone is there and he is just standing in a suit, with such a somber look on his face. Very different. Almost looks like a scene from a film to me.

Another artist I was assigned to research was Barbara Kasten. After viewing some of her work, I decided that her style is very abstract and almost open to interpretation. It appears that she is working with cut pieces of glass to create very linear and pointed pieces. These could be considered a constructed reality because they are so different and almost computer generated feeling because of the amount of plains and points. As a viewer, we aren't quite sure what it is, but it is very interesting to analyze and you almost get lost in the different gray tones.

Thomas Demand was the other artist that I researched and his work was really interesting to me because the photographs of different rooms that he makes are actually cardboard minis that he photographs as if they are a real room. When I first looked at his images, I had no idea that they were fake. At first they appear to have a little bit of a "too perfect" quality to them, but then after I realized that they were fake little sets, it all made sense. Very interesting and possibly an idea I may try for my project. Maybe shoot a dollhouse or something similar.