Define a Space

Assignment: In this assignment, students are required to define a space or location through visually controlled and expressive shooting.

Location: The smoking section in front of Hunter’s West building

Details about the space: 

• Often filled with multiple students chatting or alone, smoking
• Dimly lit
• Cold
• In a corner, so it is a semi-closed space

Emotions to evoke:

• Loneliness/ Isolation/ Distant
• Sadness
• Melancholy
• Vulnerability
• Relief/ Quiet
• Calm

Shots Shopping List:

• Shots of the cars in the street and the hustle around the area

• Just the shoes of all the people in the area
• The view from inside out 
• The view from outside in from afar (to see light comparisons)
• Edge of the sidewalk in, capturing the people on the sidewalk and the people in the smoking section
• Focus on the people that are completely quiet
• Then a focus on the people that might be in conversation and loud

Constraints:

• Recording people can create an environment that isn’t as candid or authentic then it truly would be if they weren’t being watched

During reflection, my partner Josue and I found that the smoking section of Hunter is a perfect representation of the city and also what the city lacks. Already in the mix of the city, it is easy to say that the area representing the city is very obvious, however, there are extreme contrasts that I feel the area captures that the city contains. At times the area can be full of people communicating and socializing over smoking, but most times, people sit by themselves to smoke. This stark contrast between people, as well as the stark contrast of the area compared to the rest of the outside world (given the smoking area can be somewhat dark), creates a very interesting juxtaposition that I would love to capture.

But the biggest difference between the smoking area and the city is that everyone within this area of the school is taking a minute to themselves in the busy city. Though smoking isn’t a positive or healthy thing, I want to relay a moment that publicly many people don’t share which is relaxing- especially in a busy city like New York.

"Artist" Statement

On March 7th, 2015, I almost died in an attempt to take my own life. The next day I woke up at 8am in a hospital room beside the Hudson River and I realized how foolishly I’d been living my life. Growing up in New York City as an only child makes an already independent person far more independent- but that doesn’t mean you have to conform to the head-down fast-paced system the city provides. The city is abundant in food, people, places, and experiences that if you don’t pay attention to, you can easily miss. Because of this, I have spent the rest of my life seeking out new experiences within the city and in doing so I’ve learned three main things that I want to put in my work because I believe everyone should know them. The first is to learn everything you can. To read every book, listen to every story, and to always ask questions without fear of sounding dumb. The world has so much to offer through people and their lives. In capturing their lessons and stories you can end up finding valuable information on how to live a fulfilling life that teaches generations. Sometimes if I’m afraid to speak to someone I’ll count myself down as if I’m jumping into a cold pool, and then I dive headfirst into a conversation and 9/10 times I never regret it. The second is to be aware of others and honest with myself. Around me just walking down the street, every person I pass has lived a life before me, and I want to showcase the people that many might not look in the eye- the homeless on the street, the mentally ill or physically disabled. I want people to come face to face with something that they avoid, sit with it, and feel guilty. If we can’t do this then we can’t fix it, to begin with. The last lesson is to not overthink. One of my favourite visual artists is Marcel Duchamp. Duchamp was a French-American artist who introduced techniques like dada to the art world, but my love for Duchamp comes from the attitude he put into his work to essentially “give the bird” to the art world. Duchamp took a coat hanger, put it on the floor and called it art. And although many people are extremely moved by this, many also admit that it makes no sense. To make art that not only confuses people but grounds people in a way where they realize, “Maybe this isn’t as deep as I think it is” is something I want to do. I’ve often joked that I want to waste people’s time with my art, but what I mean is, I want people to simply enjoy things at face value without having to tie themselves in knots over a hidden message that isn’t there. If they need a message, the message is this.