Julie Cockburn in my opinion has a more delicate and planned approach to her work than for example Hans-Peter Feldmann. She uses a range of techniques to edit her images, for example, she sometimes uses stitching, painting or cutting and folding the image. She tends to work on photographic prints that are form either the 1940s or 1950s.
Honeymoon Period 3 – 2014
Image taken from – http://www.re-title.com)
For this piece of work, Cockburn has hand stitched onto the found image to cover the identity of the two people in the photograph. You could argue that Cockburn is questioning the relationship between these two people, you as a viewer start to ask what, where,when and why these people are sat in this position, who are they two each other, are they husband and wife or are they brother or sister. The colour thread is interesting as none of them mix together, they are all very different apart to the final circle in the middle, which is darker than all of the rest. You could argue that the third circle is dark because it is trying to show the viewer what is wrong with these two people, maybe the things that they are not happy with in their relationship.
The Disagreement – 2013
(Image taken from – http://www.re-title.com)
This piece is clearly less delicate that the first image, and the approach is completely different. The paint stokes in this piece are very bold and messy, arguably Cockburn is trying to change the feelings that are portrayed in the photograph. The body language between these two people would portray that they are comfortable together and happy arguably, this is also portrayed in the very yellowy tone of the photograph. I would associate the colour yellow with happiness. However Cockburn is trying to make this image seem more aggressive and hostile. The aggressive paint strokes in this piece portray that feeling, and it is interesting to see how paint stokes can change and manipulate the feeling that can be taken way from a piece of artwork.
Donna – 2014
(Image taken from – http://www.re-title.com)
I really like the abstract modern shapes and lines that are in this piece of work. Again you could pull links between this work as well as Feldmann’s because of the combination of modern and old fashion work that is pulled together. Although these lines are really clean cut and sharp they are hand embodied, which must have taken a very long amount of time because of how sharp they are. The shape in which these lines form a shape around the woman’s face. You could argue that Cockburn is trying to draw links between natural and man made objects, the woman in the photograph is being used to represent nature and the man made object is the lines and shapes.This is the first piece of work that does not fully hide the identity of the woman in the photograph.
Overall I think that I prefer Cockburn’s work to Feldmanns because of the the more delicate and planned out approach that she takes when it comes to producing these pieces of work. I like that some of the techniques that she has used in her work are more time consuming and therefore make me feel as though this work is more personal. However there is some links between Feldmann and Cockburn’s work, they both in some pieces conceal the identity of the people in these photographs as well as mix together the old and the new. I think that when it comes to brainstorming ideas for this project I will have to think about what approach I want to take when it comes to editing my photographs, will I take a more delicate approach to my work and what effects will this have on my time scale.
Bibliography
Raine Sealey / Photography and Video Art / Year 2 