Of Kink and The Erotic

Music | Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

And now I can relax again. First Thursday opening was very nice with a good crowd and many surprising faces. I know for a lot of people, there is a hesitancy to come to my recent exhibitions because of the perceived content and the sexual nature of the venue. It really sucks that desires are often altered because of fear.

On the other hand, I really applaud the people that had the courage to come to a place that for many is taboo. And then there is the obvious that people didn’t show up because they have no interest... :-)

In any event, I had a very nice time visiting and being with great company. I showed 11 portraits, men and women and only a single piece of rope was shown in one of the photographs. No one was tied, bound or in any hint of physical pain. Most surprising of all, everyone was clothed.

I wanted to take on a different approach with this one. I love the idea of leading viewers to a direction that is merely a platform for them to imagine whatever they desire. I’ve just showed them to a door and left it open. Of Kink and The Erotic was a means of showing viewers that anyone can be a part of this counter culture. Could be your neighbor, your doctor, friend or even relative... I wanted the viewer to question if they found out this other person did have Kink, how much of your own opinions of them would change. Fear of the unknown is a strong influence. It isn’t like anyone of us don’t have our own taboo desires.

The second part of the exhibition was a group showing from artists from the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia and various part of the US.I thought it was a nice balance of erotic images along with the more subdued images of my own. It still blows me away that these artists entrusted me with their files to print for the show. Not only do I respect of love their artistic aesthetic, but willingness to share their work. Many of these artists I have never met.

Back to the Past...

Music | Something About John Coltrane by Alice Coltrane

I have no qualms about nostalgia. As with most people who are older, I am also bent to things of the past. I am now the old guy often reminiscing about the yesterdays. How music was so much better, how cars had more character, how most folks had a real sense of style... I love my beater 1983 Volvo and still have my 1979 BMW motorcycle. The things I am passionate about are all about soul, character and style.

I just found that I will soon have a love that I have not had a relationship with in about the past 17 years. I will be reunited with Hasselblad. My first long time affair with Hasselblad started back in 1987. I was able after many years of yearning, purchase an entire brand new system. She made me work for her and I in turn appreciated the hell out her. She treated me well, never to fail me in the decade or so of being my main system.

I am one of the few people that think the digital age has ruined a lot of things. Like most, I was lured by what digital had to offer. Promises of everything good, faster, better and more economical. My Hasselblad sat in its case not being used for years. Around 2002, I sold everything, regretting it the moment she left my possession.

The nice thing about my second go around with Hasselblad is that this one comes from a good friend who has had her for over 2 decades. She is a bit beat up, battle scarred, but still carries character I will be elated to make more art with.

I love going back to the past, reliving vicariously my youth. Material things come and go, but some things are objects of desire. This one will be appreciated for more decades as I get older, moving and dancing as I did when I was younger.

Tumblr and the All Mighty Evil...

Music | Exchange by Massive Attack

I’m getting more perturbed about the news that Tumblr will now be censoring all content to their website. It seems that the internet more and more is crumbling from the idea of what it once was. Sharing ideas, the ability to express yourself and most importantly, learn from others. I guess it should be no surprise as the powers that be always get their way and anything that could possibly go against their hypocritical ideals, gets stifled.

Regarding Tumblr, I’ve got images that are important to me back to September, 2012. Lots of the content all ready has, “Your post was flagged as explicit” in red over the image. And on the 17th of this month, 2 weeks from today, our grace period, most of my images will be gone.

In this relatively short period of time, 25 years since I started to dabble on the internet, it has taken over the world. We depend so heavily on it and give up so much of ourselves to it. Our privacy has been handed over, voluntarily. You think at this point the cloud is safe only for you?

I make photos and frankly, I am not too concerned about the safety of my images. If I were, nothing would be on the internet, nothing on facebook, nothing on tumblr, my blogs and websites...

I yearn to remove myself from the internet, but I can’t. It feeds me just enough to connect with you all and allow me the ability to share what I do. I’m realizing however that all these digital files will eventually be held hostage and taken from us. Though the idea once on the internet, always on the internet only goes so far as the powers that be will allow. I’m really getting disillusioned and frustrated.

Yes, the images I have on Tumblr I still have, so long as my hard drives will spin. But I know in my heart of hearts, they too will disappear as nothing lasts forever. But the thought that technology is the reason they will be removed from existing especially irritates the hell out of me. I am part of the giving of power to the very thing I also despise.

Make prints everybody. More than likely, they will last longer than what is on your phone, the cloud or frankly, hard drive.

Memories May Fade but the Feeling Never Does

Music | Lush Life by Donna Summer

I buy records often, many are for nostalgic reasons... What I played in the living room on my Dad’s system when I was a kid, what I listened to in my High School years or jamming to in the studio during a photo shoot when I assisted other photographers... I know my memory is fading and with only one recount I have of this album, specifically the song, Are You Going with Me, by Pat Metheny on the album, Offramp, which I used as a sound track for a class assignment for a 2 dimensional design class in college. I have this really odd, very surreal feeling of contentment. As I put the first song on and as it plays thru towards the end, I all ready know what the next song is going to be. I imagine this was a really great time in my life and I listened to this album often...

Music | Freddie Freeloader by Miles Davis

Film is hit or miss, probably because as a safety net, I shoot digital along side. I'm working my way to do a shoot entirely on film, no back up. It is a matter of letting go, free falling. When analogue goes right, the images speak volumes more to me on an emotional level.



Serah

My Lament is My Fuel

Music | School Boy Crush by Average White Band

This shit is hard... I guess it has always been that way, but when looking to the past, when all there was was film, there was nothing to compare it to. Maybe it is because I am getting older... Old Dogs not being able to learn new tricks... but there is the constant struggle. Even when you think you have things ironed out, something changes, subtle to more obvious, but those curve balls keep rolling in and one must constantly adjust. But hell, I've been doing this well over 30 years...

Exposures, focus, developing of the film, things that are second nature to me, but I think technology has made me lazy. I remember when the home computer first came on the scene, how it touted that it will make things easier and faster, make us more efficient and enable us to do much more. This was even before the internet. Indeed, the iPhone has its advantages of being able to do all the things that it does and, very well. However, I no longer know my daughters phone number, I rely on GPS to get to places I am not familiar with and wouldn't be able to make it back home without it... I use it to remind me how many steps I have done through out the day instead of just going out and taking a walk. My nose is in front of its screen, or my ipad or my computer instead of having conversations with people...

Off topic, my mind wanders... I wonder why...

So even now, I am still having to make adjustments with my images. One may think it is fine if you can get a decent looking image on screen, but the true measurement is will the film (or file) be capable of making a decent print. My lament is also my fuel. I think I enjoy the struggle.


Adriana


Adriana in Kimonos and Rope

Graflex...

Music | Ricky Don't Lose that Number by Steely Dan


Myranda


Raven at the Abandoned Silo


Domatila


Adriana at the Wall
2018 brought on not one, but 2 Graflex cameras. Either, unlike any camera I have used in the past. I have to say it has been a challenge, but I'm feeling it.


1942 Graflex RB Series D


1964 Graflex Speed Graphic with Buhl Projection Lens

A Generated Artist’s Statement...

Ted Mishima (º1953, Tokyo, Japan) is an artist who mainly works with photography. With a subtle minimalistic approach, Mishima seduces the viewer into a world of ongoing equilibrium and the interval that articulates the stream of daily events. Moments are depicted that only exist to punctuate the human drama in order to clarify our existence and to find the poetic meaning in everyday life.

His practice provides a useful set of allegorical tools for manoeuvring with a pseudo-minimalist approach in the world of photography: these meticulously planned works resound and resonate with images culled from the fantastical realm of imagination. By emphasizing aesthetics, he creates work through labour-intensive processes which can be seen explicitly as personal exorcism ritual. They are inspired by a nineteenth-century tradition of works, in which an ideal of ‘Fulfilled Absence’ was seen as the pinnacle.

His works are often classified as part of the new romantic movement because of the desire for the local in the unfolding globalized world.. However, this reference is not intentional, as this kind of art is part of the collective memory. By referencing romanticism, grand-guignolesque black humour and symbolism, he creates work in which a fascination with the clarity of content and an uncompromising attitude towards conceptual and minimal art can be found. The work is aloof and systematic and a cool and neutral imagery is used.

His works sometimes radiate a cold and latent violence. At times, disconcerting beauty emerges. The inherent visual seductiveness, along with the conciseness of the exhibitions, further complicates the reception of their manifold layers of meaning.

Ted Mishima currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon.