Artist Entry #4 Monday September 27, 2010

Artist Entry #4 Monday September 27, 2010

Artist: Keith Arnatt 

Why- Keith Arnatts photographs are wonderful in my opinion. At first I did not understand why i was so drawn to his work. After listening to the video clip, hearing Arnatt talking about the use of the snapshot image and how the reaction of the subject was important, It was very clear the fundamental similarities of my work with his.  

Quote 1-

In regards to Arnatt’s Notes from Jo “ He told me more than once that he wanted to photograph the notes simply because he thought they were wonderful, he wanted a record, and that if he didn’t photograph them they would disappear. As he told me, ‘Every couple has their own way of expressing their relationship.’ However, the approach is connected with the rest of his work nevertheless.”

Arnett, Keith, and David Hurn. I'm a Real Photographer. London: Photographers' Gallery, 2007. Print.

I find the series Notes from Jo, and Notices to be very touching and  full of personal insight. Although the way he photographs them they seem to hold a documentarian feel. 

Quote 2- 

Between 1979 and 1986 Arnatt had only two one-man shows (though Walking the Dog made it to five venues), and the Tate stopped collecting his work; after all, in a by now notorious statement, Alan Bowness had declared that "you have to be an artist and not only a photographer to have your work in the Tate". Arnatt was fully aware of the insecurities and contradictions the false artist/photographer dichotomy seemed to provoke, and mocked the Tate's elephantine hair splitting in his 1982 article Sausages and Food: "Making a distinction between, or opposing, artists and photographers is, it strikes me, like making a distinction between, or opposing, food and sausages - surely odd. In the way that sausages may be given as an example of food, photography may be given as an example of artists' practice. The notions of distinction and opposition simply do not and cannot apply to these differing category terms".

"Review of Keith Arnatt, "Rubbish & Recollections"" John Stathatos. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. http://www.stathatos.net/pages/keith_arnatt.html

The article by John Stathatos referencing the works of Keith Arnatt were found on line at http://www.stathatos.net/pages/keith_arnatt.html but First published in Art

Monthly, London, July 1989

Interview with the artist or a review-- 

This exhibition reflected the achievements of Keith Arnatt's work from 1973 to his most recent practice. In this film David Hurn, Photographer and Curator of this Exhibition, talks about the work of his friend, Keith Arnatt

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"Keith Arnatt: I'm a Real Photographer - City and County of Swansea." Home - City and County of Swansea. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=22819#normal>.

Artist website/ galleries-  I did not find a website for Arnatt, or a Gallery but I know he has had solo shows in Anthony D’Offay Gallery, London. Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol. The Photographers’ Gallery, London. As well as Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. Arnatt has had many group shows from 1969-2007 in MoMA and Tate Britain.

4 Images: