Edward Honaker
When investigating Seung Hwan Oh, a major setback in my work was the fact that his work was not explicitly related to my theme.
I decided to look for a new artist to follow, and discovered Edward Honaker. He used varying techniques to document his depression in a series of photographs. Interestingly enough, his chosen direction focuses on the obscuring/destruction of identity that depression can bring with it, a direct parallel with my own work.
In an interview Honaker stated “Mental health disorders are such a taboo topic. If you ever bring it up in conversation, people awkwardly get silent, or try to tell you why it’s not a real problem. When I was in the worst parts of depression, the most helpful thing anyone could have done was to just listen to me – not judging, not trying to find a solution, just listen. I’m hoping that these images will help open up conversation about mental health issues. Everyone is or will be affected by them one way or another, and ignoring them doesn’t make things better.”
His images are attempts at creating a microcosm for depression in each individual piece, being a way to repsresent in a single image an entire abstract ordeal, which even using words is difficult to express the true experience of. He does this using varying techniques and styles to creating his desired effect.
The images are shot in monochrome, and involve distorting the face in some way as to obscure the identity of the model (himself) as to let the viewer empaphise with his own experience of seemingly loosing his self to his illness. In the photos he is alway rather well dressed, often wearing a suit. This is portrays the idea that we steryotype those who seem successful as well adjusted. He uses the image of a suit ironically as though normally this would promote the idea of success and achievement, the message of the image is that these can be those suffering the most from mental illnesses.
I would like to follow his stress on the subtle details in the shot, carefully selecting the attire, location, pose and expression.
Rene Magritte
Rene Magritte was part of the expressionist movement, which spread largely accross Germany, due to the growing resentment of man's growing discord to the world. Many artists in this period used their works to portray their emotions and anxieties held within. It focussed less on the superficial, blatantly visible aspects of life and the world, and more on what lies beneath the surface(as does my theme ,coincientally)
Magritte's works are now famous for being both surreal, and iconic, such as his image"The Son of Man" , appearing often in pop culture. His work similarly focuses on obscuring the identity of the person and hiding their face from view, such as the apple in aforementioned "The Son of Man".
Specifically, a large point of comparrison between the artists is in Magritte' painting "The Lovers II". In "The Lovers II" a couple are engaged in a romantic embrace, yet at first glance it is obvious that something disturbing has occured. An act of passion is blocked by a mask wrapped wround their faces, turning the mood to one of frustration and struggle.
The enshrouding of faces was a common motif in his work which has been maintined into the modern day, in Honker's work. In his image, he has used the same motif, yet on a single model. The material has the same pattern as the background , emphasising a sense of dissapearing, mainting the theme of loss of identity. The feeling emphasised in Honaker's work however contrasts somewhat, with a feeling of isolation and fear becoming apparent. Again, the work is somewhat disimilar in the fact that the emotion of the face is unclear, whereas although the faces are blatantly covered, it is evident that both characters are embraced in an amorous kiss. The solitary figure in Honaker's image is somewhat more pitifull, with the lack of movement in the figure stressing an idea of defeat rather than frustration with the situation.
Though these contrasts exist, it is apparent that Magritte's work is heavily borrowed from to create the same effect of personality and identity being torn away or obscured. A theme carried through Honaker's series.
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch created many very perculiar and lucid images. Yet one stands out from the rest and has, again, become a staple of modern culture. I am of course referring to his image "the scream" or "Der Schrei der Natur " - The Scream of Nature.
It portrays the anxiety that Munch experienced in his life. The vivid colours and vast expanse of land around the subject seem to be almost growing, creating an idea that they are almost pulsating and overwhelming him. This effect is added to by the high contrast of the colours creating a very bright, almost nausiating effect.
The subject is performing the titular "Scream". The distress of the character is made evident by his distorted, over exaggerated expression, representing the utter pain and terror the subject, and in turn the artist, felt. He also makes use of complimentary colours in the background, as it creates a jarring effect which stresses each colour on its own rather than blending subtley with the rest of the piece, which adds to the overall panicked feeling of the image.
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Though his methods and execution of his images are rather different to Honaker's, his message and self expression of his personal distressing situation, are not.
I will try to utilise the idea of facial expression into my own work, and perhapse have someone screaming or gripping their head in anguish or despair, similar to Munch. This will help further emphasise the theme of my images in future.
