Times Quotidian

November 25, 2009

Remains of the Day

Astroboy Unbound
Photography by Naomi Pitcairn

The photographs of Naomi Pitcairn’s Empty Nest series remind us that deconstruction is immanent. That inherent in all possibility is also the inevitable demise. These packages, once disembodied, cease to hold it together.

Take Astroboy. He is first seen forward facing, standing at attention, full of potential. But when next spotted he has become Icarus, back now turned away, heading towards his destiny. How quickly promise can turn into ambitious defeat. Fated, singed by aspiration he floats away untethered on his space walk into the sunset.

Initially designed to preserve and protect, a few of these leftovers possess a built in means to inflict injury. Child endangerment is a congenital condition for some. And other remains just clearly communicate what’s gone missing. In this world of discards there are Power outages, Happy Little Homes have been vacated and Foil Families are broken apart. Even rainbows can come to a crushing end. Creased and pressed like a Chamberlain sculpture these containers that once held a “somewhere over” commodity now reflect upon a slightly more compact finish. — Nancy Cantwell

Please click to enlarge for titles.
All photographs, 15″x15″, Ink Jet prints on Hahnemule fine art paper, 2008-2009

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1 Comment | Categories Photography | Tags: California Photographer, Empty Nests, Naomi Pitcairn, Oakland Photgraphy

November 21, 2009

Out of the Box

Empty Nests
Photography and Artist’s Statement by Naomi Pitcairn

In this photographic series entitled “empty nests” I focus on a set of ordinary objects – the packaging of children’s dolls and action figures. Removed from their larger context these items of material culture become extra-ordinary, providing a micro-context of their own – one that is emotionally manipulative, sensorial-ly seductive and ultimately, persuasive.

Though often manufactured abroad, these “fictionalized” mini-environments for plastic homunculi bear surprising truths about our culture of consumption and the western world view. Sans “toy” the packaging can be viewed for its semiotic quality where it works on many layers to reify culturally constructed gender stereotypes i.e. male power and dominance and female beauty and domesticity. Color, style and symbols forming realistic and fantastic images of the magical places we apparently want to live, as well as reminding us that choking is always a hazard when small parts are involved.

Please click to enlarge for titles.
All photographs, 15″x15″, Ink Jet prints on Hahnemule fine art paper, 2008-2009

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