Sunday, 19 February 2012

Commission: 'Rapture Bombing' research


When doing research on the internet I came across the website ‘GIZMODO’ http://gizmodo.com/5803766/rapture-prank which had a blog about the supposed Rapture day on May 21st 2011. 

They wanted as many people as possible to play a prank called ‘Rapture Bombing’; this involved laying out an outfit preferably in public places as if the owner had evaporated into thin air. People were asked to photograph their effort and upload them on to the site which made for entertaining viewing. Some on the toilet, sofa, in bed, others in the park, on a bench & even skating; many celebrities even joined in including Tony Hawk & David Copperfield. 

Although this event was meant as a joke it brings up some interesting ideas & questions; firstly, the whole idea of a photo used to be to capture a special moment however nowadays it is a common past time.

 







However in a way if real, these images would be a memory of the people that left behind these clothes; their last memory left within the clothes. These empty clothes become wasted which reminds me how excessive buying causes waste in our Western culture especially as well as the concept of hoarding items which do not get used.    
 
I’m starting to develop the feeling I want to create in my final photographs to present materialistic waste. I like this idea of anonymity but also this sense of human presence, this feeling of memory residing within the clothes. I like the notion of the clothing, rather than laying down flat could float in a void, no body, no use.  

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