As I've already mentioned, I went to Chinatown on the 20th. While there, I filled up a disposable camera, taking photos of things I found interesting. I had been planning for this to be my second 24-hour piece, but after losing the camera in my house (in Berkeley) and going "home home" without starting the developing process, I realize there is not enough time before it’s due to get the photos developed.
I am now onto plan B, which I will be working on soon -- photos to come. It is a sort of play on the authenticity/fantasy of Chinatown. Does it even matter if my photos are seen? Will they look any different than any other photos taken there? I plan to have my camera be in the piece (I had a moment of clarity as I was going to bed one night away from Berkeley, texted my housemate to check if it was where I thought it might be, and sure enough, it was there), along with a series of photos stolen from the internet related to Chinatown. This plays nicely with the sort of cliche yet mysterious Chinatown that I have been thinking about and exploring.
I am now onto plan B, which I will be working on soon -- photos to come. It is a sort of play on the authenticity/fantasy of Chinatown. Does it even matter if my photos are seen? Will they look any different than any other photos taken there? I plan to have my camera be in the piece (I had a moment of clarity as I was going to bed one night away from Berkeley, texted my housemate to check if it was where I thought it might be, and sure enough, it was there), along with a series of photos stolen from the internet related to Chinatown. This plays nicely with the sort of cliche yet mysterious Chinatown that I have been thinking about and exploring.
UPDATED - 11/30
While I strayed from my original idea for this second 24-hour piece, I wouldn't have gotten to this endpoint without having thought of the first.
This piece still comments on authenticity, and the illusion or fantasy or idea a place can have, and it places myself within this "place," as I question my role there and vice versa.
I'd call this piece two separate photo series, though both are related to each other.
This piece still comments on authenticity, and the illusion or fantasy or idea a place can have, and it places myself within this "place," as I question my role there and vice versa.
I'd call this piece two separate photo series, though both are related to each other.
Chinatown - The Fantasy
These photos were all taken of one photo I printed out after finding it online.
These photos were all taken of one photo I printed out after finding it online.
Chinatown - Mediated
These photos are mediated images -- what the viewer sees is through multiple screens of some sort -- of myself (wearing my "San Francisco Chinatown" sweatshirt that I found at the "Bargain Barn" in hometown Santa Cruz) in front of the printed photo of Chinatown (seen above).
These photos are mediated images -- what the viewer sees is through multiple screens of some sort -- of myself (wearing my "San Francisco Chinatown" sweatshirt that I found at the "Bargain Barn" in hometown Santa Cruz) in front of the printed photo of Chinatown (seen above).