Abstract&Surreal
Interview with davespertine
How would you explain the concept of abstraction/surrealism to someone who has never heard of it before?
It is interesting to see what kind of titles people give to abstract works, when I look at my finished art which doesn’t have a title, it usually suggests something to me. If it gives me an obvious answer I will ask it for something different, sometimes I wait while it thinks of a better answer.
Some people name their works after the music they have been listening to.
Perhaps it is more about what we hear than what we see. If art can speak to you, tell you it’s name, it can tell you other things too.
What inspires you to use the concept of abstraction/surrealism for your artwork?
All photography is abstraction, because it deals with only a segment of the view. However abstract photographers focus on the less discernable aspects, seeing things that most people don’t see, finding the hidden truth. The obvious is the most misleading.
What do you want to express with your artwork? What’s your source of inspiration?
The best creativity comes through you, not from you. By getting involved I tend to mess it up. My art makes itself, I can’t really take any credit for that, unless perhaps I stumble upon a way to make something out of that which I messed up earlier. Inspiration will make good from mishap, not I.
Do you think that the “quality” of an artwork depends more on technical perfection or on the message/expression?
Perfection is an ugly thing. I can touch imperfection, play with it without fear of breaking it.
Whilst looking at perfection I realised that it didn’t have anything to say for itself. I asked perfection if I could spend the rest of my life with it, it said “NO”.
I love imperfection, it is all I have.
Whilst looking at perfection I realised that it didn’t have anything to say for itself. I asked perfection if I could spend the rest of my life with it, it said “NO”.
I love imperfection, it is all I have.
Who’s your favourite visual artist and why?
I am my own favourite artist, because if I don’t like me, why would anybody else want to.
Which group on dA would you recommend to someone who’s searching for abstract/surreal photography?
Abstract art is everywhere, once you start looking for it, you find it in everything. Perhaps abstract art is more natural than nature, nature is an abstract artist.
You will find abstract in every group and in every gallery. Every one must find their own favourites.
You will find abstract in every group and in every gallery. Every one must find their own favourites.
Do you have any advices for absolute beginners or is there anything else that you’d like to say about abstract/surreal photography?
The more you look, the better you become at seeing. The more you do, the better you become at doing.
Look at things through your camera, it's a different view. The view through the lens is abstract in itself, especially if you zoom in or get close.
See what things look like out of focus.
Look at the same object from different perspectives and in different lights.
Don’t look at the whole body, just one curve.
When you focus on the texture, sometimes you can forget what you are actually looking at. Lose yourself in it.
Make photo collages of colourful shapes arranged in different ways.
Experiment with how different colours work together.
Try to make 3D objects look flat.
What you do is more important than what you did.
Break the rules - you don't ever have to conform to be an artist.
