Surveillance
Artwork
Medium:
Photogravure Print with Chine Collé
Date:
2018
Dimensions:
Artworks -
Height: 15"
Width: 11.5"
Description:
Black and white photographic like image of a peace sign in the ground, with a small figure standing outside of a trailer and two blimps in the sky.
Historical Context:
In this piece from his series, “Reverse Alchemy,” Anthony W. Thompson seeks to create disorienting stories that question themes of the human experience by layering spaces, perspectives, objects, and moments of time and history. A recurring young character is used as the "witness" to the events in each scene he creates; asking the viewer to reach into their memories and experiences. Regarding the alchemy aspect of this series the artist states, “The concept refers to my interest in this ongoing transformation of the photogenic medium (from analog to digital or vice-versa), as well as the transformation of the photogenic medium of art making and practice. The reverse aspect in the title alludes, albeit ironically, to what the work is ultimately about: the ways in which contemporary society/culture can sometimes transform the precious into the base, with devastating consequences, and the concurrent human struggle to note and resist that degradation.”
To create his images, Thompson combines multiple photographs digitally to make the entire scene. Photographs are taken by him using a variety of digital and analog techniques from over a decades long career, as well as found or researched public-domain imagery and objects that he constructs and then photographs or scans.