Subjective Realities

Refco Group. (2003). Subjective Realities: Works from the Refco Collection of Contemporary Photography. New York; Chicago: Refco Group.

More Sophie Calle work that I haven't seen! She get's a job as a chambermaid in a hotel in Venice for three weeks, as you can see she photographed and inventoried the rooms of that she cleaned. The text (by Luc Sante) that discusses this work in Subjective Realities also talks of a work called L'Homme au Carnet where Calle found an address book on the street and rang everyone listed and asked their opinions of the book's owner.

In 1973 Polaroid Corporation gave Walker Evans an SX-70 as a marketing ploy to have his work and his fame advertise their camera. These images seem odd in relation to his black-and-white documentary prints form the 1930s. With point and shoot colour Evans created a unique body of work consisting of about 2,500 images over the 2 years that he had the camera.

John Coplans, slef portrait, back with arms above, 1984.

I've seen this portrait quite a few times and it sticks with me because of the strangeness of proportion that is created. The back becomes a giant deformed rectangle with little antenna hands peering over top.

This is part of an extended series in which Coplans photographed his own ageing body. Luc Sante suggests that this work is situated less in photography and more in performance art, specifically body art. Sante also says that the fists are those of the Roman slave figure trying to break free.

Olaf  Elisson, The River Raft Series, 2000

These are part of a 42 image series. I like them because they make me feel seasick.