BEHIND THE IMAGE - DUALITY FIVE

I have been battling to get started on a video series called “Behind The Image” where I take an image I have created and talk about the meaning, process and idea behind the image. I am at the DUALITY exhibition, which can be a little quiet during the day, so thought I would get the series started with some words.

DUALITY FIVE

This is the first image from the DUALITY series that I have actively shared, outside of marketing for the exhibition. Having spent a few days with the exhibition, I reckon talking about this one will give some insight into the general idea for the exhibition.

The DUALITY exhibition stems from a year away from social media (FB and IG), although initially a forced break through a cyber attack, I decided to actively pause and reflect on what my art practice, and business could look like without them in my life.

Although there are a variety of techniques in the series, there is even a traditional Ball of Light image in the show, this image stemmed from the core idea. That in this world of social media there is the “me” that I choose you to see and know and the “me” that exists that you rarely, or never see. Over time I lost a sense of my self, creatively. By the nature of social media we get twisted and warped. More on this concept to come.

In these images there is a sharp, clearly defined aspect. This is the Denis that I choose for you to see, then there is a murky, out of focus, ill-defined part, chaotic even. This is the part of my life that exists out of your view. For me those parts are often confusing and difficult.

I have always been very open about my mental health. I believe that an openness to talk about this, share how photography and my art has helped me maintain it positively, might help others. The reality is that you will rarely see the actual chaos that exists. It will reman hidden. This is the duality of my life. Of many of our lives.

This image, DUALITY FIVE was made at a very confusing time. My daughter Brittany was visiting from New Zealand. We had the most beautiful time together, but the joy of having her here is always balanced my the deep pain of knowing she will go. On the last full day of her trip we went into the studio and made this image. The hand you see here is Brittany’s.

You will see in many of the images I have used this idea of the hand. I have always been fascinated with the use of hands in ancient rock art. Here in Australia, Indonesia, France and all over, the spraying of liquid pigment over a hand onto rock has been a form of art. When you view them, and I have been lucky enough to see some, there is this connection across deep time, tens of thousands of years. But you feel a connection with those people, across time, it feels like it could be us.

This technique, the use of a translucent material between the front the and back, came to me partly from Jason Rienhart who creates incredible images in this way with his daughters. When I looked at these I felt this connection to them across time and space. The idea always stuck with me and worked to help mw express this idea. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.

There is a magic in the creation of these images. The room is dark, I generally have music playing, it takes time to find a natural flow of movement. It takes about 20 seconds to make each image, it pops up on the screen, I make an adjustment to shape, movement, go again, check, adjust, go again. Each time the shutter closes the energy is locked in, frozen, but you the viewer is there with me, with us, sharing in the energy that existed, still exists. No two images like this are the same. And in the creation of this series there were thousands of images made. In the end, there was always one that popped from each set.

I hope that this image resonated with you on some way. We sold the original of it on the night, but in the coming weeks, this, and all of the images from DUALITY will be available as limited edition (of 10) prints over on the shop if they have not sold here at the show.

Peace, Denis