Field Research - Tate Modern Gallery (Energy and Process, room 9 : William Eggleston)

Photographs taken by myself.

Curators :  Simon Baker & Shoair Marlian.

William Eggleston (1939) is an American photographer who focuses on the effects of colour used within fine art photography. The subject of interest within his work lies around the clichéd and everyday life; he combines photographs from mundane ordinary situations, focusing on the structure of the frame and works with the essence of colours that the photograph depicts. 

A recent exhibition at the Tate Gallery includes two series’ of photographs taken by Eggeston called Chrome (1969-74) and Elective eve (During run up to the 1976 presidential elections). The series’ hold a strong impact on the words ‘Energy and process’ as they both rely on colour to push out into the three dimensional world, giving the photographs a sense of energy and life rather than being caged to a two dimensional frame. The photographs are a mixture of the past and present but the future can also be incorporated into them. When asked about his photography, Eggleston explains them as ‘life today’, relating to how although his work can be interpreted in different ways; he works with the simplicity of the moment rather than worrying about the intensity of the message behind the shots. Within many of the photographs there is a constant glare of primary colours, they add an exaggeration of emotion to the photographs, stripping them down to the basics so that everyone can relate back to a time in their own experiences where they were in a similar scene as the ones win the photographs.

Whilst entering the room, a sudden surge of nostalgia came over me. The layout of the photographs are simple and easy to follow, it was kept extremely minimalist so the true boldness of the photographs themselves were able to show. The layout drew me in, reminding me of my own personal memories.  Eggleston’s work really shows how captured he was within his camera and how in tune he became with it. William Eggleston really focuses on the spectrum of the colour wheel throughout his photography and by using various gradients was been able to achieve a more psychological connection between emotion and the tints of colour. I think this is something that I have in common with him, I enjoy focusing on details of colour and the psychological impacts of my work rather than trying to make my work seem obvious and mundane.

As Eggleston captures shots, he focuses on finer details such as the reflections and diagonal lines they take up the elements which bring the work together and create a complex frame within what seems simple from a first glance. Learning from the artist, I have realized that simplicity goes a long way, I feel like in the future to improve on my own work I need to leave room for it to breathe and allow a smaller amount on the page, introducing a more minimalist style into my work. 

Bibliography:
Energy and process, 1970-1976. William Eggleston.