LISTENING TO RICHARD BILLINGHAM
I am not usually all that interested in photography, unless it has an architectural or industrial feel to it, but on Thursday afternoon i had the opportunity to listen to Richard Billingham talk about his practice at a lecture at work (i work at Norwich University College of the Arts). So i went to the lecture, as i always like to hear other people talk about their practice.
He was very modest, and this was reassuring to hear that an artist as successful as Richard still has wobbly days where the work doesn't seem to do what you want it to do. It was evident that he is a very determined artist and keeps trying and trying, and finds ways around a problem rather than letting it be a stumbling block. It was fascinating to hear about his highs and lows, he spoke for 2 hours and could had gone on much longer.
As i made notes throughout the lecture, i found myself sketching little plans, and having new ideas pop into my head about the "WET" exhibition at STEW. I don't know where these ideas came from, perhaps i just needed to switch into "artist mode" like that for a couple of hours rather than "outreach officer" mode.
Richard, in discussing his Zoo Animal series described how a brown bear rubbed itself along the fake rocks in his cage, probably out of boredom, you see animals do this quite a lot in zoo's and traces of their paths are evident. It was when Richard said something like "evidencing the trace" that my eyes lit up and i refocused on my practice, he also talked about setting parameters and boundaries with the camera, and the importance of the snapshot.
So, the lecture did what i hoped it would; i feel motivated, determined and inspired. I just need to do the work now, and to keep doing it relentlessly.
