On the surface it’s a fairly common guess that most of my new work is inspired heavily by any of your go-to Impressionists. And while I admit that definitely relate the most naturally to the spirit of Monet and his pretty cool crew, the only art movement that ever actually influenced my life was Dada.
Now Dada was a pretty angry world-wide movement in large protest to WW1 that effected many creative forms. And although I can only empathize towards the social context from which it came, their defiance of so-called logic, and embrace for chaos always appealed to me, not only in terms of my photography, but also the way I’ve tried to live my life.
Now when I say chaos, I’m not talking about people running around burning police cars (anymore;). It’s more the randomness of it that I always loved – the idea of surrendering to something beyond your control... and the idea that art can be used as a impetus to positive change.
Clearly, there are days when I wake up and feel pretty loose, when I’m open to taking more chances; and others where I’m chasing a more specific stroke in my head. But always, no matter how much I decide to control the image, or life, I always try to leave room for that which remains out of my hands.
Dada also preached that one had to deconstruct before they could reconstruct, that “unlearning” was integral to REthinking. Picasso, perhaps above all, best expressed this when he began to masterfully reassemble the human form through the eyes of a child into what has become a signature style.
Too many artists cling to the assurance of what little they know, and while they may find success or comfort, they stop evolving since they make no room for something truly new. I know because I could have become one of them.
