Jonny Briggs, Artist Statement.
"In search of lost parts of my childhood I try to think outside the reality I was socialised into and create new ones with my parents and self. Through these I use photography to explore my relationship with deception, the constructed reality of the family, and question the boundaries between my parents and I, between child/adult, self/other, nature/culture, real/fake in attempt to revive my unconditioned self, beyond the family bubble. Although easily assumed to be photoshopped or faked, upon closer inspection the images are often realised to be more real than first expected. Involving staged installations, the cartoonesque and the performative, I look back to my younger self and attempt to re-capture childhood nature through my assuming adult eyes."
We were very lucky to have photographer Jonny Briggs come to talk to us and show us his work. His love for photography started from the dislike of reading and his love of being outdoors. He uses a 10x8 camera and each of his images is filled with a narrative and emotion.
This image is of himself and his Father. However, Briggs is wearing a large wooden mask of his Dad - he found this was a good way to connect and interact with his Dad, but on the inside of the mask is a perfect fit to Jonny, as his head is on the inside.
The position of his Dad may suggest different tings - is it a struggle, or is he being nurtured?
This image appears to be a mirrored image, but, it is in fact an unedited image. Each object has been placed to look identical to the other side, and the more you look at it, the more differences you can see. Briggs and his partner are sat on different beds with one half of the mask each.
The image is extremely interesting as an illusion has been created, and his Father has once again, been doubled.
Once again, this image looks as though it has been edited or just doubled. But, Briggs actually had these two photographs taken individually and in each one, he is wearing a different jumper. He had ton try and get into the exact same position and location, this was rather difficult because he put himself in an awkward position.
These images are all very interesting and beautiful. They all show a narrative of his Dad and him. They are the same people, but different. They are 'Is and Was.'
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