Memory key concepts brainstorm

Hiroshi Sugimoto: fading memory

I was first introduced to Hiroshi Sugimoto's work last semester in my Basic Photo class. I looked him up after class that night and was captivated by his soft dreamy images - many of which are intentionally out of focus. To me, they evoke strong emotions related to memory - sadness and nostalgia combined with the struggle to remember important times and places. The blurriness of the photos reminds me of how memory is not factual, rather, it is our attempt to record and retrieve experiences.


Sugimoto's work is very much about the passage of time. He created a series of photos in beautiful old theaters where he left the camera shutter open throughout the duration of a film. The result is a white screen which casts a soft light across the empty theater. These images make me feel a little sad - they make me think of lost time and of lost memories...of watching a story of your life and not remembering parts.

Chris Roberts-Antieau : memory and humor

I first discovered Chris Roberts-Antieau's work at the Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore (which is my favorite museum!). She creates these amazing quilt/painting/collages that address a huge range of topics - but all are done in a really humorous way. Here is a link to her website so you can see what I mean: http://www.chrisroberts-antieau.com/000_home.html. I like the way she approaches memory and narrative through a humorous approach.

"Scary Clowns" 2006

"...She doesn’t just mimic a child’s style—she applies a child’s eye to adult realities, reminding viewers not to take themselves too seriously, and giving them a chance to remember again the wonder and joy that children find in the everyday." (from Atomic Needlepoint, the online gallery carrying Chris Roberts-Antieau's work - http://www.atomicneedlepoint.com)