Hamish Fulton- Dissertation Links
The bold paragraphs of text are extracts taken from my dissertation.
Hamish Fulton is a walking artist whose articulations towards the natural environment are strongly influenced by the physical aspects of the walks he takes and the views that he perceives during particular journeys. Fulton refers to the maxim, “no walk, no work”. (Auping, M. 1987, p.37)
Hamish Fulton’s work is very process driven, using his body as a physical base to his work. He takes a photo physically projected from his body with a 360 degree range, from which a point of the perimeter has to be selected to photograph. The point, in which he chooses to photograph a particular point, is a result of his physical involvement with it. (Auping, M. 1987.p37)
“Fulton does not approach nature as ‘landscape’, in the traditional sense of a still image, but as a physical experience”. (Auping, M 1987.P.37)
Although Hamish Fulton’s Outcome of work is not something that really relates to my work, the subject matter and process is massively inspiring. The way in which he allows the natural environment to have affected his works is exciting. The digital outcome and statements of his work is something that is of less interest to me, it is more his unique ways of working which are why I am fascinated by him as an artist.
The natural environment is something that Fulton allows to have a massive influence on his work; this being the terrain and weather that often changes during his walks. These factors become crucial elements of chance where the work is determined by the length of the walk, the direction and the number of photographs that are taken as a result of this. (Auping, M. 1987 p.37) “My work is about nature and it seems proper to determine events en route”. (Auping, M, 1987, p.37)
My photographs have a certain amount of control in them. I choose to walk around and take pictures when I feel it will work or show differentiation. This aspect of Fulton’s work can show similarities in the way that the rain would affect his work just as much as the sun because it physically takes its effect by not allowing him to continue or not talking so many photos or opposing effect. For me the weather is physically taking effect on my work when documenting my experience in the studio, either with colour or light and texture.
Fulton is known for his repetitiveness of many routes on his walks. In an interview with Ben Tufnell, Fulton’s response to the question regarding the repetitiveness of walking was adamantly positive. “Yes, I’ve made several repeat walks on the same routes. Just as fast walks are very interesting so are walks that go over the same route every day.” (Fulton, H, N.D. Tufnell, B, 2002, p.109
This is something that I really am interested in. nature is always changing and something that Fulton sees one day he may not the next and therefore the things that he experiences are documenting in a very precise way in his works.
My process:
I have currently repeated my walk twice, taking photos when I feel I make that connection to the landscape. They show massive similarities however the light brightened up on set and I am now starting to look at the comparisons they depict and how my outcome differs.
Things to consider:
•Walking the same half an hour journey everyday- depicting it
•Write notes on what I see or think
•How the outcome changes
Kastner, J. (2012), Nature, London: Whitechapel gallery.
Mckibben, B,(2002). Hamish Fulton. First Edition. Tate Publishing
