Ocho preguntas y respuestas sobre mi nueva serie fotográfica Awake.

Ocho preguntas  y respuestas sobre mi  proceso creativo y mi nueva serie fotográfica Awake.

Rebirth and Awake serie photography by Yannis Lobaina

Estas preguntas, me las hizo hace un tiempo,  la escritora Argentina Canadiense Luciana Erregue, iban a hacer las palabras para mi dossier fotográfico, sobre mi más reciente serie Awake. Pero, las circunstancias, el azar recurrente o la pandemia global, no permitió ni que ella escribiese las palabras para el dossier, ni que mi exposición sea en agosto como estaba previsto.

Como decía mi abuela cubana, lo que sucede, conviene. 

Este Sábado 20, de Junio, 2020,  participaré en una súper buena iniciativa,  que  Raw Artists ha creado llamada  The National Arts Drive. Y gracias  a esto, yo podré mostrar una parte, de mis  dos  colecciones  fotográficas Rebirth y Awake desde la ventana de mi apartamento. Sobre esto, les hablé aquí. https://enlareddeltiempo.com/2020/06/11/mini-exposicion-fotografica-en-mi-ventana-sabado-20-de-junio-2020/

Las preguntas , son algo general y mis respuestas breves, porque quedamos a la mitad del proceso, pero he querido compartirlas con ustedes, para que de este modo, conozcan un poco más sobre mi procesos creativos, y estas series en las que estoy trabajando ahora. Les prometo que pronto, pondré la traducción en español para los que no estén familiarizados con el idioma Inglés.

 1) What started this process of photographing these ‘encounters,’ Yannis? 

The need to tell stories through photography. I’m passionate about storytelling photography medium. This series, in particular, is called Awake, because it is a search for a creative language with elements of our every day for me is my life metaphors. 

2) What are the continuities/differences in the way you see your surroundings now from Cuba?.

 Although both landscapes are entirely different, I have always been in that constant search to portray nature and my connection that she transmits to me in my writing and creation processes. 

3) How would you describe your process? What words come to mind?.

 When I take photographs, I try to capture the feeling of the pleasure of the fleeting moment when I press the shutter button. Sometimes I imagine I have an analog camera in my hands. The words: Metalanguage. Metaphors of life & storytelling photography. 

4) What artist/photographer are you in conversation with? What imagery (visual or literary) do you engage with?.

 My visual and inspirational referents for this series Awake and Rebirth are three women artists that, since my time as a student, I admire a lot, they are Ana Mendieta, Susan Sontag, and Marina Abramović’s. This quote is my like my artist statement.

«I decided that for the images to have magic qualities, I had to work directly with nature. I had to go to the source of life, to mother earth.» Ana Mendieta. 

5) Are there unifying categories amongst your pieces?.

 Yes, there will be 12 pieces of photographs, where the common theme is ephemeral in the nature landscape. The ephemeral as a metaphor for what happens momentarily is unrepeatable and unique.

The ephemeral as a metaphor for what happens momentarily is unrepeatable and unique.

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 6) How do you hope the viewer will engage with your work?.

Resonate, with my vision, and perhaps, this makes them create awareness of the healing power that nature has itself. A least for me is the place I found the peace and answers.

7) What do you search for in your composition? How do you know an image is ‘the one.” 

I like to play with the perspective and point of view of the scene that I choose or encounter at random. Depending on the project, I seek to create apparently simple images, but with a striking or different composition. And in short, as I know that it is one, that is a matter of connection, personal satisfaction, and confidence in what you want to convey with your project.

8) Why “Awake” what does the word conjure up in your mind? Is your imagery firmly anchored in reality, or is there room for reverie?.

 For me is, be present and conscious and aware of your surroundings. When I take photographs, I try to capture the feeling of the pleasure of the fleeting moment when I press the shutter button. Sometimes I imagine I have an analog camera in my hands. Yes, that is my intention, to always create spaces for magic, for interpretations beyond the simple, beautiful snapshot. I like to highlight the uniqueness and unique beauty of each object I photograph. This serie Awake, is more focused on photography on wildlife, is my metalanguage and interpretation as mother and artist of the everyday life that surrounds me.

This serie Awake, is more focused on photography on wildlife, is my metalanguage and interpretation as mother and artist of the everyday life that surrounds me.

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GRACIAS, siempre por visitarme, apoyarme en estas aventuras, comentar, compartir, y sobretodo acompañarme, desde tú rincón del otro lado del mar. Les deseo un feliz fin de semana, y que esta cuarentena Fase 2, nos sea leve a TODOS, y que pronto regresemos a nuestras rutinas, pero mejores seres humanos.

Les dejo una playlist que he venido curando, desde que empezó el confinamiento. Abrazos.

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