Jeff Wall
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Wall, J, A Sudden Gust Of Wind (after Hokusai), Transparency in Lightbox, 229x377, Tate, London
The deconstruction of the working image of Jeff Wall's A Sudden Gust Of Wind shows important clue's to how he works that I can apply to my imagery. Here Wall has photocopied the background landscape and used methods of collaging and drawing diagonal lines to map out the composition of each subject and piece of paper blowing in the wind. This process shows the experimental process of composition and the importance of this to a final work.
Wall, J 1993, A Sudden Gust Of Wind (after Hokusai), Transparency in Lightbox, 229x377, Tate, London
I'm particularly interested in the movement created in this still image which is a characteristic that features in all of Jeff Wall's tableau's. Based on Hokusai's 1832 Woodcut 'Traveller's caught in a sudden breeze' the use of the model's gestures and flying paper in the air to create enigmatic scene that leaves you wondering.
Wall, J 1982, Mimic, Transparency in Lightbox, 229x377
My studies this semester are based around power, gesture and expression photographed in a tableau style.
This image is something I keep coming back to as Wall depicts the social issues of the time through the gesture racial hate that existed at the time in Vancouver. Photographing the film-like set on the streets with actors makes the image feel like it could be a documentary style image.
Wall, J 1980, A Woman and her doctor, Transparency in lightbox, 100.5 x 155.5
This Jeff Wall image is of particular interest to me this semester due to the tension of the relationship between the two subjects. The expression of the man's face who we assume is her doctor from the title of the work, looks to his patient in a seductive manner - the wine on the table is also a clue to the misconduct that may be apparent OR is he just concerned with her smoking habit!?
This also shows the importance of titles and text to a work.
It leaves the wonder - what happened after the image was taken? This is something I would like to work on through my imagery this semester and for the rest of the MOP.
Wall, J 1993, Passerby, Gelatine Silver Print, 250 × 339.5 cm
This image represents the tableau image that feels very 'real' and documentary style. The turning of the mans head and body as he passes by a stranger creates the sense of tension I am trying to achieve this semester.
Wall, J 2013, Summer afternoons, Left 183 x 212.4 cm, Right 200 x 251.5 cm, Art Gallery of New South Wales
The use of installation and colour is of particular interest to me with these more recent works of Jeff Wall's.
Are the two subjects in the yellow house in a relationship? the woman on the right has a look of boredom - is she bored with him or just waiting for someone else?
Installing these side by side strengthen's the enigmatic qualities of both works.
Jeff Wall's inspiration for most of his imagery comes from paintings - this one brings to mind Edward Hopper's nudes.
Wall, J 2006, In front of a nightclub, 229cm x 364cm, Colour Transparency in Lightbox, Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
This work by Jeff Wall is of particular interest in direct relation to the work I'm planning to shoot at the Palace Theatre Melbourne.
The different flows of energy between people that congregate outside the nightclub is worth noting. The process behind creating this sense of familiarity and nostalgia with in the frame was by observation of a real life nightclub and then re-creating this mood with models/staging in the studio.