Artfilter: Researching the relationship between artist-as-maker and artist-as-character. Little help?
April 14, 2010 1:40 PM Subscribe
Artfilter: Researching the relationship between artist-as-maker and artist-as-character. Little help?
I'm right in the middle of writing an essay on the creation/negotiation of the artist persona in contemporary photographic art (that is, the relationship between the artist-as-maker, the artist-as-character, and the viewer/reader).
Can anyone think of any artists I should know about or any key (brief) texts or articles? My essay doesn't have to be exhaustive or particularly brilliant, but it's a topic that interests me and my curiosity will surely outlast this particular assignment. My essay is already is pretty good shape but I figured it couldn't hurt to crowdsource.
Main characters thus far:
Sophie Calle (a favourite of mine) - artist
Marcel Duchamp (still researching) - artist
William Burroughs (maybe) - writer
Bit of an odd question I know, but I figured it was worth a try.
I'm right in the middle of writing an essay on the creation/negotiation of the artist persona in contemporary photographic art (that is, the relationship between the artist-as-maker, the artist-as-character, and the viewer/reader).
Can anyone think of any artists I should know about or any key (brief) texts or articles? My essay doesn't have to be exhaustive or particularly brilliant, but it's a topic that interests me and my curiosity will surely outlast this particular assignment. My essay is already is pretty good shape but I figured it couldn't hurt to crowdsource.
Main characters thus far:
Sophie Calle (a favourite of mine) - artist
Marcel Duchamp (still researching) - artist
William Burroughs (maybe) - writer
Bit of an odd question I know, but I figured it was worth a try.
You kind of narrowed it down excessively by the category contemporary Photographers. That kind of eliminates Duchamp on both counts (not a photographer, not contemporary since he's dead) and Burroughs (same reasons). If you're really going to use this sort of source, I'd suggest looking into Dadaist Arthur Cravan.
Of your picks, Sophie Calle seems to be the only relevant choice here. Let me add the obvious, Cindy Sherman. Lucas Samaras might be worth looking into.
posted by charlie don't surf at 1:49 PM on April 14, 2010
Of your picks, Sophie Calle seems to be the only relevant choice here. Let me add the obvious, Cindy Sherman. Lucas Samaras might be worth looking into.
posted by charlie don't surf at 1:49 PM on April 14, 2010
Oh hell, you need to pick up Cindy Sherman in this. She's tailor made for this line of discourse... and might even answer you if you write a letter.
posted by eatdonuts at 2:06 PM on April 14, 2010
posted by eatdonuts at 2:06 PM on April 14, 2010
Upon reflection, I would even tie in a bit of Diane Arbus and Robert Mapplethorpe.
posted by eatdonuts at 2:09 PM on April 14, 2010
posted by eatdonuts at 2:09 PM on April 14, 2010
2nding Cindy Sherman. She is the absolute person you should be writing about.
Mapplethorpe is another good one...
I'm not super fluent in photographers, but Cindy Sherman is the first one I thought of, and she is the embodiment of this question.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 2:43 PM on April 14, 2010
Mapplethorpe is another good one...
I'm not super fluent in photographers, but Cindy Sherman is the first one I thought of, and she is the embodiment of this question.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 2:43 PM on April 14, 2010
Oh..contemporary. Still worth a look.
posted by fire&wings at 3:40 PM on April 14, 2010
posted by fire&wings at 3:40 PM on April 14, 2010
Look at Nan Goldin, who photographed her life, and Ryan McGinley, who creates for photos something that looks like an interesting life. There should be no shortage of critical analysis of either.
Also, check out Antoine D'Agata, who recently took up with a Cambodian prostitute for a project, the process of which is documented in the film The Cambodian Room (haven't seen it, but can't wait). Also, for a less-mainstream view, look at Mike Brodie, aka The Polaroid Kidd, who did amazing work photographing transient Americans when, I believe, he was one of them.
posted by msbrauer at 6:26 PM on April 14, 2010
Also, check out Antoine D'Agata, who recently took up with a Cambodian prostitute for a project, the process of which is documented in the film The Cambodian Room (haven't seen it, but can't wait). Also, for a less-mainstream view, look at Mike Brodie, aka The Polaroid Kidd, who did amazing work photographing transient Americans when, I believe, he was one of them.
posted by msbrauer at 6:26 PM on April 14, 2010
Oh, and also maybe look at Dash Snow, who recently died and had a Mefi obit thread. Photography was part of his art, but not the whole.
posted by msbrauer at 6:39 PM on April 14, 2010
posted by msbrauer at 6:39 PM on April 14, 2010
Mauruzui Cattelan uses "stand-ins" for himself in media interviews.
posted by bonsai forest at 7:51 PM on April 14, 2010
posted by bonsai forest at 7:51 PM on April 14, 2010
You should probably look at Nikki S. Lee, who photographs herself as part of different cultural groups. In the individual photographs, she's almost erasing the figure of the artist, but when you look at her body of work as a whole, that figure is eerily apparent.
posted by dizziest at 11:32 AM on April 17, 2010
posted by dizziest at 11:32 AM on April 17, 2010
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posted by bingo at 1:43 PM on April 14, 2010