Conor O'Brien - 16/05/2011

Conor O’Brien is in many ways an enigma. Showing a decade of his work, he seems to have come so far, yet, made no progress. From taking photographs for fun as a teenager, the young O’Brien moved to Vancover, Canada, where he started to use the medium as more then just a hobby. Taking Black and White film shots of the world around him, O’Brien decided to create and publish a small book/zine displaying these works. In 2003, O’Brien attended an exhibition displaying the works of photographer, Tim Barber, whose work continues to play a huge influence on the work of O’Brien. Unfortunately, in the opinion or this student and photographer, O’Brien’s work did not seem to grow after this series? Although there was the change to colour film, moving back to Australia, and growing recognition as an artist, O’Brien continued to document his surroundings in a manner that could be compared to that of Nan Goldin. In the tutorial we discussed the possibility that O’Brien, like the works of Goldin, no longer have such an affect on today’s generation, they’re images that we see everyday on Facebook. O’Brien however did continue to grow in his sense of presentation. He continually produces publications and exhibits throughout Australia. The white cube galleries he is seen in tends to juxtapose that of his work, something I’d like to hear him talk about and maybe use that juxtaposition to bring more depth to his work.

However, a great understanding of photography did occur to me during this lecture. Whether you the reader agree or not, I now believe that there are truly two types of photography, the intentional, and the unintentional. Intentional does not however mean a created shot, but a photograph taken with a previous agenda, thus including photo-journalism. The unintentional photograph however, the works I believe O’Brien falls into, is that of which every person captures when they go for night out. Neither is right or wrong, they are purely two different styles, and there are obviously times when everyone, particularly every photographer, would fall into both categories.

Hayden Fowler - 09/05/2011

I did not expect myself to be so fascinated with this lecture, however it left me in a state of… confusion. I should say… good confusion. Fowler presented he’s body of works over the past decade, but not in chronological order. It was awe inspiring to hear how he’s ideas and concepts transgressed as he continued to make his art. Many of his works left me asking, ‘what is he trying to show through this work?’ Whether it was goats walking around a set, lambs drinking milk from fake teats, or a women portraying Venus and graphically retrieving flowers from her vulva. Now, a few days on from the lecture, I’m still left unsure of how I feel about the work, if I was in a gallery showing it, would I stay and watch it? Regardless of personal taste, it was a priceless insight into an artists life work. Unlike previous lectures, it was the first time that the lecturer truly discussed how their concepts have changed so greatly over time, and yet they can all be traced back to one base concept.