Impossible Science: Photographing the Unphotographable
Date
2024
Authors
Sankari, Ilka
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This thesis consists of a series of photographs alongside a conceptual introduction to the work, connecting the photographs to my inquiry into representing the passage of time experienced through the body. I draw on photographic theories of trace and punctum to explore how people navigate time, mortality, and family through the photographic medium. The photographic work consists of portraits, landscapes, and a repetitive series of hands. The photographs were created for an installation in the Laverne Krause Gallery, and they were printed in color at varying sizes. The work is grouped into two parts: a series of photos of my grandmother’s hands, printed at 11 x 17” and hung in a grid, and a select few portraits and landscapes printed at 45 x 55.5” to accompany the hands. This thesis elaborates on the intentions behind the work and documents the photographs included in the exhibition.
Description
Keywords
Portrait Photography, Punctum, Aging, Trace, Art Photography