DUANE MICHALS - Interview 2019

Summary of Artistic Techniques, Concepts, and Photography+course&tag=dtdgstoreid-21">Creative Processes from DUANE MICHALS Interview (2019)

• Non-traditional Education and Approach:
  • Did not attend Photography school, which he considers a blessing because schools teach rigid rules that must later be unlearned.
  • Prefers to invent and create from nothing rather than follow established norms or replicate reality.
• Philosophy and Artistic Intent:
  • Interested in introspection, curiosity, and the nature of thinking.
  • Focuses on what a subject feels like rather than just what it looks like.
  • Photography is a form of storytelling and theater; images are mini-dramas, carefully staged and invented.
  • Believes art is “making something from nothing.”
  • Uses sequences of images to subvert and question reality rather than merely document it.
  • Prefers to engage actively with subjects rather than passively observe.
• Portraiture Concepts:
  • Portraits must provide insight, not just description.
  • Identifies three types of portraits:
    • Stand and Stare: The common, straightforward portrait.
    • Prose Portrait: A portrait that tells a story about the subject.
    • Annotated Portrait: Portraits accompanied by written comments about the sitter.
  • Also creates Imaginary Portraits of invented people, sometimes painted on tintypes.
  • Takes portraits "in the manner of the subject," adapting style to the person portrayed.
  • Prefers photographing women who are not conventionally pretty but have a unique, private beauty and authority.
• Photography+course&tag=dtdgstoreid-21">Creative Process and Materials:
  • Invents all his work; rarely uses found objects or pre-existing materials.
  • Combines Photography with writing, often integrating handwritten notes or poetry.
  • Embraces imperfections and mistakes in his work, valuing flaws as part of poetry and intimacy.
  • Uses sequences to create narratives that challenge viewers’ perceptions and assumptions.
• Themes and Subject Matter:
  • Explores human nature, spirituality, memory, and death.
  • Interested in the energy and essence of people beyond physical appearance.
  • Uses metaphor and symbolism (e.g., a man vanishing into light in a subway, referencing cosmic energy and spiritual clearness).
  • Often works with personal memories or poems as the foundation for his photographic sequences.
  • Addresses loss of innocence and the complexity of identity.
• Notable Projects and Experiences:
  • Created a series on the “Ten Ages of Man” with Robin Williams.
  • Worked with subjects like Elsa Poppin and Magritte, adapting styles accordingly.
  • Produced books on diverse topics including Egypt, children’s literature, quantum physics, coffee, Walt Whitman, and his army days.
  • Photographed a sequence about a boy witnessing his grandfather’s death and spiritual transition, blending personal narrative with universal themes.
• Advice and Artistic Values:
  • Encourages breaking rules rather than following them blindly.
  • Values curiosity, challenge, and adventure in the Photography+course&tag=dtdgstoreid-21">Creative Process.
  • Sees Photography as a means to evoke and validate memory, preserving what cannot be remembered otherwise.
  • Believes that Photography should reveal hidden truths and question reality rather than simply document it.

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Creators/Contributors Featured

• Duane Michals (primary interviewee and artist)
• Mentions of Magritte (influence and collaborator in style)
• Robin Williams (subject in “Ten Ages of Man” series)
• Elsa Poppin (photographed subject)
• Lyman White (model and farmer featured in a personal sequence)

This summary captures Duane Michals’ unique approach to Photography as a deeply introspective, narrative, and theatrical art form that challenges conventional rules and explores profound human themes.