Wish you were here

My class went to Cardiff to visit some galleries. It was quite interesting, especially when we went to Ffotogallery to see David Barnes' exhibition "King Tide"; in this project he photographed people over five years or so, and he was involved with them all that time to really get underneath the surface. The photographs themselves shows a sense of all the things that matters to everyone; community, family and identity and they don't really give away too much - so it's open for many different interpretations, and I think it is a part of what Barnes wants as well. I find projects that takes place over such a long period, where obviously alot has to change during the time, extremely interesting, and Barnes told me that it is a challenge to complete something like that, profesionally and personally. The narrative will of course change, and it must be hard to keep focus and try not to get overthrown by new perceptions and perspectives. That is what I want to try out in the future!

The above pictures is an exhibiton in Third Floor Gallery (freakin great gallery!) where the focus was set on war and the consequences that has for the human psyche. It was interesting use of the medium; all of the three sets contained of simple snapshots taken by soldiers in their everyday-life (that we others can't ever imagine). I was especially drawn to Stuart Griffiths' set; he had several large-scale photographs and beside them there were these standard-sized photographs. It shows the difference between the life as a soldier and the life as an ex-soldier, both are trying their best to cope with their situation - but the ex-soldiers struggle harder to fit in as the "normal" society rush pass them and forgets about the wars when they're not in front of a tv-screen. I found this particual set the most dramatic because of that.

All in all, a good day (except for the hangover, tired and hungry state I was in, oh, and the damaged knee)!! We were in Cardiff all day and went to the National Museum as well - didn't pay too much attention there as it was the last thing we went to. Didn't really saw anything of Cardiff though, so I'll have to take another trip in the future!