"Properly Photography", 2012

                                                                                              all Images Copyright protected, 2012 ©  Keshav Prasad

The above two images are from my new series "Properly Photography", 2012 © Keshav Prasad. While starting to work on this series I wanted to work with a few restrictions. I believe its important to work within a boundary, and within that scope of reach try to push the potential of the work. This project in itself manifested from the idea of working within restrictions such as not having to take a new photograph, but to reuse photographs that has already been taken. And if possible not to use a camera anywhere in the process.

After my interim exhibition at college, I began to wonder on how much do I really need the photographs within a photographic project, I wanted to push the need for a photograph within a project as far as I could, yet establishing it within the realm of photography. So this stayed on the back of my mind, while I started working on this series. It focuses on creating a visual work using abstract photographic images without having to take a new photograph.

The work borrows ideas from fine art in a subtle way, the idea of aesthetic arrangement and some distant reference to cubism mixed with minimalism is inherent within this series.  

In a way it is a reflective study of the medium(photography) itself, questioning what can be considered as proper photography, and tries to stretch the boundary of how photography can be defined. I feel its very important in attempting to redefine a medium, for the sole purpose of expanding its potential, and to push its artistic possibilities.

New Project

Lately, I had been working on a new series titled 'Properly Photography'. I have been thinking about how our lives are flooded with numerous photographic images, I see them on the billboards, on the newspapers, on magazines, and of course on the digital media and internet. There are an enormous amount of photographs we encounter in our lives everyday, so I was wondering do I really need to take another new photograph? So this series sprang on the motive of not having to take another new photograph.

My Project

The above image is from the MA Photography Interim-Exhibition at London College of Communication of my project Also Space (2012), Inkjet Print, Dimensions variable. I was quite satisfied with the outcome of my installation, it was a sort of constellation of images that surround the two pieces of poetry installed in the middle. The poems try to establish a connection between the images, at the same time leaving space for individual interpretation.

I feel its very important not to explain too much about the work, which could possibly limit the potential of the project. Art is a personal experience and is unique in that sense, and should be. At the same time establishing a context is important, especially in my project. Otherwise it would seem like a bunch of random images.

The title of the project is 'Also space', it explores the idea of space in the physical world and its allegorical connection with the human mind, the chair included in the work signifies the idea of space(psychological as well as physical) where one can be on their own. I was keen that my project should be an installation rather than just photographic images, the idea is that the viewer needs to experience the work being present physically rather than viewing it digitally on a computer screen.

Space has always occupied an important place in art, both within and outside it. The idea of space belongs to different facets of our existence ranging from physics, mathematics, cosmology, geography, psychology and philosophy. It should be noted all these borrow from each other and are more or less relative on a grand scale.

I see art in a way is a means of reflection on the society, a creative expression. In fine art, space plays a crucial factor. I like the idea of space that is utilized in sculpture. Sculpture more or less depends on the intervention, projection of the work into space, a sort of negotiation with the surrounding space is always apparent.

In a way we are all negotiating with space each and every day physically and mentally. My project relies on this concept of negotiating space and in the process creates a work that is in constant evolution within itself.