By assigning an intricately thorough vocabulary to describe a mundane, previously unexamined phenomenon, I mean to explore, and in a sense experiment with, the ways in which scientific classification constructs meaning and imposes order through language. In tandem with this is an interest in revealing, and thus sensitizing and complicating, viewers’ responses to a feature of their environment that is often either virtually invisible to them or an oversimplified signifier of urban decay or the perils of consumerism.
See more images and an explanation of the “system”:
http://www.strayshoppingcart.com
Advertisements
In this particular photograph, I absolutely love the linear perspective captured in it!
I envy that you dared to combine such seemingly opposite subjects; science and art. The language that comes with such logical subjects as science and math starts to seem futile when describing a captured every-day situation. However, alone, this cart image would not be very much (though open for more interpretation).
When introduced to this body of artwork in class, I found it interesting and humorous at once. When scientific categorization is applied to something seemingly insignificant, it allows the audience an almost objective perspective from which to view classification systems. What becomes under study is not the specimens themselves, but the sociological significance of the ways in which humans categorize experiences and outside resources. This photographic study is smart, without being too cheeky about it.
I think that this body of work successfully uses lightness and humor to approach a very stark and heavy topic of consumerism and urban decay. This elaborate classification system that he has created gives personality to these overlooked objects. Just the sheer amount of work he has put in to creating this whole system, photographing the amount that he has, and compiling a complete guidebook again is humorous in one respect, but his dedication to it makes one think twice on the topics being represented by these shopping carts.
I find this project interesting. I like the odd humor of photographing found shopping carts in different environments. After hearing about this artist, I find myself thinking about what they do every time I see a shopping cart.
I enjoy this body of work, because it can be taken in a serious way but its very humorous in the ways that he photographs these stray objects. I also like that he captures these objects in snapshots, and no post production is needed (minus maybe some color correction). Great way to document this issue.
I found this artist’s work very engaging because of the structure of classification he used in implementing his concept. I don’t feel that this project would have been as successful without his clever organization of the subject matter.