Project Proposal

BRIEF OUTLINE OF IDEA/CONCEPT

The project investigates the role of physical art practices in a contemporary society, particularly looking at traditional/lost trades in rural areas. It will document several artist’s practices, capturing their spaces as an extension to their identity, the tactile nature of their processes, and the beauty, uniqueness and functionality of their products.

Artists find deep value within their works and sacrifice a lot to create. The dance that is an artist’s process is often what draws people in, I hope to celebrate this performance visually.

These heritage processes needs to be seen for them to continue to grow, this is what I hope to achieve through this project.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The key questions:

With the arts world shifting from production for necessity to indulgence, how do makers manage to preserve tradition whilst also adapting to contemporary trends? What motivates them to keep working in their field despite the challenges they face as an artist today?

Other areas of potential exploration:

The art’s sector has evolved greatly overtime. According to Creative City Ballarat’s 2023-2024 report card, 45% of their study’s artists were unable to make a living from their craft highlighting the sector’s vulnerability. Will these artforms become extinct, with traditional skills not passed down?

One appeal of handmade goods is their contrast to the mass-produced wares popularised today.Through artist interviews, and additional research, I wish to analyse how the physical and personal process behind each artist-made good attracts people. Looking at how/why we feel a sense of connection and tradition when using these products.

METHODOLOGY

Genre: Editorial/Documentary

Who: Artists working in heritage trades and art forms from Ballarat and surrounds.

Examples include: Leatherworkers, Marble carvers, sculptors, printmakers, ceramicists, weavers, and jewellery makers.

How: Artists will be researched and shoots extensively planned. Once artists seem comfortable with me, I will interview them with prepared questions, using their responses to guide my shooting style and subject matter representation.

Storytelling will be the primary focus, photographing artisans in a way that immerses them in their uniquely personal.
Shadowing the artists, grants them the space to create freely, allowing me to document their process, workmanship, relationship the artform and results.

RESEARCH

From my research into photography and technology, I was highly inspired by the works of Witho Worms. Within FOAM Magazine’s Issue 49, article: “Cette montagne c’est moi’ (Haest, H 2019), several themes prompted a range of areas of exploration for my own project. One being the relationship between the process and physicality of artworks in relation to the way in which they hold value for individuals.

Prompted by this reading, I will explore the relationship between handmade goods and the ways in which people interact with them via interviews with the makers and buyers, capturing people interacting with artisan goods, and the maker’s own care and relationship to their process. I also want to highlight the process behind each work, to promote this further.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Creative Ballarat, UNESCO, & City of Ballarat 2024, Creative City Report Card 2023/2024, Creative City Ballarat, Online <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cceb81cc46f6d08f8a3a792/t/67bd2054874cc61e1b8f5fde/1740447907529/Creative_City_23-24-4-240125-Web.pdf>.

MOTIVATION

There is a reduced necessity for art and handmade products today, which I certainly feel, and the commercial pressures placed on artists affects how they create.

I enjoy the dance that is producing something by hand. Buying products from local creators just adds something special – a sense of connection and intrinsic value. I wish to share that.

Desired effect:

Through my photographs I wish for artists to feel seen, recognized and valued for their workmanship, dedication and creativity. I hope viewers might appreciate and admire the hands-on-process and steps behind artisan goods. I also wish to potentially inspire creatives to continue to share their knowledge and skills to keep the traditions alive.

Materials and Equipment

For each shoot I will try to bring the least amount of equipment in as possible, given many of the artist’s workspaces are small. This is an overarching list of gear.

Nikon Z6
28-75mm F/2.8
70-180mm f/2.8
16-50mm f/3.5-6.3
Nikon ZFC (For Video)
Rode Lapel Mic
2 x Promaster flashes
1 x Trigger
2 x Light Stands
2 x Umbrellas
1 x MagMod Dome Diffuser
1x Reflector
1x Tripod

Access:

To obtain artists for this project I have posted several artist call outs which have been boosted by Creative City Ballarat. I’ve also researched local creative pages for names and contacted many makers directly.

Post-production planning

The goal is to maintain an authentic viewpoint, hence most the editing will involve cropping and minor image corrections. Some adjustments may however be made with the colours and exposure for the sake of cohesiveness.