Secondary Imagery – Could it be the answer?
To begin with my original idea was to paint from primary sources, mainly photographs taken by myself. I initially wanted to use primary images so I would have full control over composition and choice of participants. However, I have become aware that working with a small group of agencies may only give me a narrow view of the issues surrounding homelessness. Whilst researching into the world of homelessness it is becoming more apparent that the problem and threat of homelessness is beginning to effect a much wider range of people than I first anticipated.
Perhaps the use of secondary images will help to address this issue much more effectively and to connect to a wider audience. If the photographs are not my own, I would not be presenting my own feelings on the subject, therefore allowing the subject matter to speak for itself. However, I do understand that whoever took the secondary images may have loaded these images with their own opinions but my project is also about the existing view, perceptions and preconceptions of homelessness.
I do not wish to work solely from secondary images as I still want to express some of my own views and knowledge of the subject, however, I still want to keep the overall tone of the work subjective.
Christian Boltanski used found images taken from obituary sections in newspapers which were then manipulated, reducing the photographs detail thus making the portraits less recognisable. Thereby making the work subjective.
Boltanski’s work was partly about the loss of identity and restoring individuality to those that had been forgotten. This echoes some of the concerns of my own work. This loss of identity is also a serious consequence of homelessness. When somebody becomes homeless, their identity can be forgotten. Who they once were often holds no significance to most of us. Everyone’s life has an importance and value. Hopefully through this project I will be able to depict the depth and value of the people portrayed.
