In my own work, I have been thinking a lot about the past and my strong attachment to it, even though the majority of the past that I’m attached and drawn to happened well before I was even born. So I have no real connection to these things, yet feel strongly compelled by them. In my work I use self portraiture to explore this weird nostalgia for this imaginary past, however I wanted to present a few artists that I have been looking at that use photography to show the “real” past…sort of. I also wouldn’t mind time traveling to some of these places these other artists have photographed and stealing some mid century modern furniture and knick knacks for myself.

I have included a few images from my series that I’ve been working on lovingly entitled “Mantasies”.

Danielle C. Head - Plaid

I have recently been particularly fond of Adam Bartos’ images from his series “Kosmos” in which he photographed places and people who were involved in the Soviet Space Program. Also his series “International Affairs”. Something odd that strikes me about these images is that you can’t quite tell when they were taken. You would think that these places would be filled with anachronisms but so much of the detail seem completely removed from time.

Adam Bartos - from Kosmos

There is also something a bit sad about these images, because looking at them now we know how the story ended. So what is Bartos showing the viewer? A reflection on the past, or a study of the relics of the past? I have always had an interest in mid century design so these also seem like studies in design of the period, and I wouldn’t mind myself if the world and the objects in it still looked like that!

Adam Bartos - from Kosmos

Another photographer whose work I have been looking at is David Maisel who has a few interesting series but I was particularly struck by his Library of Dust Series. The main portion of the series focuses on these oxidized cans that store the remains of the Portland State Mental Institution’s patients. I was however more interested in his images of the spaces in the hospital. Clearly no longer used they still retain an odd quality of presence.

David Maisel - Library of Dust

David Maisel - Library of Dust

David Maisel - LIbrary of Dust

Finally, I have been looking at some of film director John Water’s photo work. He’s not really taking images of the past, so perhaps he’s a bit out of place in this post. However, I think there is a strong sense of nostalgia and trying to capture something that has gone. He uses found images from films and combines them together in interesting ways. Its not a photo, but I am particularly fond of “Sneaky JFK”. I like the irreverent quality of Waters work, and that he seems fairly unapologetic for his loves of bad taste and popular culture. There is humor in Waters’ work but I never feel like he’s making fun of his subject matter even though much of it may seem silly. I think its also really heartfelt ode to the past as well.

John Waters - Scene Missing

John Waters - Sneaky JFK

John Waters - Toilet Training

John Waters - Cut Uncut