Day 15: In the purest interpretation of the phrase, a still life contains as one of its major elements something which was but is no longer living, i.e., life which has been stilled, such as fruits picked from a tree, flowers gathered from a garden, even (shudder) dead animals. While you will find none of the latter in my compositions, I do love a good still life although I stop short of including any of the arcane symbolism present in many historical works...or do I? Do we read into art things which are outside the artist's intentions? And is it not the place of Art to evoke interpretation? What hidden meaning might lie in this simple arrangement of seed heads and ceramics displayed against softly draped, rich fabric? Though Art addresses the eye, it also engages the mind whether by design or accident.
As still lifes go, this one is pretty basic, but I hope it stimulates you to think beyond pottery and plant matter. Have fun developing your own "read" of the photographer's constructive process!
No comments:
Post a Comment