Summary of "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.

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.