Dec 8th 12:00 a.m.- 11:59 p.m.
Dec 7th 7:07 p.m.- 8:07 p.m.
Dec 7th 12:28 p.m. -12:29 p.m.
Dec 7th 11:17 a.m.
Andy Delany
Untitled, 2010
4 8"x 10" Silver Gelatin Prints and 4 sets of 35mm film negatives
Process: Four series of photos were taken, one set consists of just one photo, the next consists of 14 photos taken over a minute in 5-second intervals, the next is 22 photos taken over an hour in 3-minute intervals, and the last is 48 photos taken over a 24-hour day in 30-minute intervals. Each set of negatives was then turned into just one print by exposing every negative in the set onto one piece of photo paper. The sets of negatives are displayed as separate strips, with the corresponding image that is made by the set of negatives displayed above.
Materials: The photos are all taken with a Pentax K2 on Kodak Tmax 400 film and printed onto Ilford 100 matte photopaper.
Evaluator Jon Garrey
ReplyDeleteAndy Delany’s work Untitled is an exquisite display of technical photographic skill. Delany using a film camera took photos throughout his day-to-day activities at varying time intervals, split into what appears to be an instant morning shot, a minute in 5-second intervals, an hour in 3-minute intervals, and a full day in 30-minute intervals. The display shows each shot progressively on a film roll, labeled with date and the included time frame and photograph interval. Finally, in an image presented above the respective film rolls, Delany exposed each film shot over each other to produce a multi-layered image of these daily events. The time devoted to this project is quite obviously evident, but what is more impressive is the unified display of time lapse.
The stark use of black and white images is very much appreciated not only because they are photographs but also because it helps makes clear the time of day in addition to allowing the viewer to distinguish between objects in each shot. Delany could very well have only presented the exposed manufactured images to the viewer, but the inclusion of the film rolls is a strategic and important addition to the exhibit. The film allows the viewer to follow the artist’s day and spot various focal points in each shot that appear in the combined exposure image. I was also pleased that the artist slightly removed the film rolls from being pinned directly to the wall; this allowed for better viewing. While some film shots are simply black (understandably, since some shots were taken at night) and almost darken the daylong exposure too much, the entire exhibit is really quite effective.
Delany utilized Entropy, or organized chaos, in his pieces. While this concept may be a bit of a stretch to understand for a viewer that does not know the artist’s process, I can grasp the concept quite easily. From what I understand, Delany hoped to explore a sense of time in both an organized, orderly way and a disorganized, messy manner. If the viewer sees the exposure first and then looks at the film, the chaos is made neat. If the viewer observes the film first and then the exposure, the concept of Entropy is clearly conveyed. The option to go back and forth between a tidy organization and a jumbled confusion, perhaps suggesting how one may think about his or her day is quite compelling. It potentially may be a display or commentary on memory. Do people recall the events of the past day down to every second? Every 30 minutes? Or do they simply remember things in a muddled conglomeration?
Overall, Delany’s photographic exhibit is quite successful, professional, and just plain pretty.