collections > plato's cave
The subject matter that motivates me is the nature of the “State.” The State plays a significant role in society, and of course philosophy has much to say in regard to the State. The photographs represents to me, the coercive power of the State: its powerful ability to imprison and punish. The contrast between darkness and light, together with the shadows introduce the aspect of Plato’s Cave - the illusion that veils the reality and truth. The reality versus the illusion, mirror the State’s power in distorting the true nature, and reality of the State. The photographs carry their own unique titles that hint at time passing, which rather like the fable of the “Frog in the pot” suggests that the State encroaches so slowly against freedoms, that many never realise that they are being slowly boiled alive. The abstract style also picks up the idea of McLuhan’s “The Medium is the Message” through the use of ice and abstraction, both creating and imparting a cold message.
Art history encompasses large tracts of philosophical thought. A central and recurring question within philosophy relates to two fundamental questions: how do we know something, viz. knowledge, and its correlate, truth? This fundamental question led me on my own personal search, looking for a definition of art, that fulfilled this philosophical criteria of knowledge and truth. I appreciate that some truths are subjective; that my personal truth, might not be someone else’s truth or value: this then became a central point in selecting the style of abstraction. Abstract is “wertfrei” or value free. My values, or your values, are equally valid within this style.
