Abstract
This paper is mainly trying to understand the artworks of Ian Breakwell through the studies of everyday life by French philosopher Henri Lefebvre and cultural theorist Michel de Certeau. The selected artworks here include Breakwell’s diary from 1964 to 1985, partially accompanied by photographs. These artworks are significantly entangled in the everyday, because they involve not only the daily continual and repetitive processes of photography and writing but also what the artist saw in his daily lives and how he associated himself with his surroundings. To further explain these aspects, this paper explores the triangle relationship among the artist, the textual and imagery records in the artworks, and the associated daily surroundings. Through looking at this triangle relationship, this paper gradually uncovers the richness and meaningfulness of the fragmentary daily moments in relation to the continual actions of writing and photo-taking. In the end, this paper emphasizes the artistic modes of presence and the aliveness of everyday life.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
EVERYDAY LIFE, CONCEPTUAL ART, DIARY WITH PHOTOGRAPHY
