artist statement
As a photographer I am passionately interested in the nature of character and reflecting that in portrait in such a way that allows a person to reveal who they are, quietly, as I step aside to give them space - a momentary collaboration that "allows". In projects such as that with Oasis, working with homeless and disadvantaged youth enabled me to allow these young people to "be seen", sometimes for the first time. In turn, these young people were unselfconscious and honest, not wrapped up with superficial concerns about appearance, and making their portrait felt like a real honour, a privilege. I seek always to allow my sitters to "reside in their own space" - this is not about me... it's about them. Their character, their life, their unique person. Engaging in life and valuable, regardless of circumstances and situation. As humans we are complex beings - it is that richness that deserves to be honoured. All people have their stories... My desire is to tell those stories through my photographs. My job is to be fully present with those I photograph in order to recognise, to "see" that which is true and beyond form, beyond the surface veneer. It is fascinating to see how character can be seen in face and body language, revealed through portrait. I am interested in people others may not normally have insight into and how character is forged through life experiences, how character etches itself onto our physicality. How we can explore and begin to understand ourselves more fully as we see the "many" sides to us, yet always remaining uniquely "us".
I am also passionate about landscape, both natural and urban. In nature there is a sense of poetry that embraces us if we allow it. Beauty that takes your breath away and reminds you to "see". In the urban landscape there is also a rhythm and the landscape can evoke questions by what's "not" evident as much as what is... The city can be a great mystery, so many lives, so much noise, so much anonymity and silence. The silence between the noise can be deafening...
Kate Baker June 2009
gallery representation
Sydney Australia - www.meyergallery.com.au 269 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (contact: Mary Meyer +612 9380 8014 or meyergallery@bigpond.com.au)
contact
Kate Baker
works and lives in Sydney, Australia
available for portrait commissions, actor portfolios, documentary projects
contact: kbaker@earthviolets.com.au