Ashley Kuttler

Artist Statement 

 

     Through my photo I wanted to depict the difference between living and existing. I found it difficult to put these two ideas into a single photograph. My final photograph encompasses both the ideas living and existing through social media and the character on the couch. The character is holding her phone and has the app Instagram open. The focus of this photo is on the phone screen which shows a picture from a concert. This picture on the screen represents someone who is living their life to fullest by seizing opportunities. Meanwhile, the character in the photo is simply existing because she is just sitting at home absorbed in social media. People today often spend more time on social media then they do going out and enjoying life.

 

     The process for this photo started with brainstorming in my sketchbook. I started by questioning what the difference between living and existing is.  My original idea was to create a diptych for this concept. I was going to have a group of people on there phones one the left and then a photo of the same group outside enjoying life on the right. However, I then decided I wanted to incorporate both of these ideas into one single photo. While shooting, it was difficult to find a good angle that focused on the phone screen while still being able to the the character and her environment.  

 

     I am happy with how the overall photo turned out and how it integrates both the ideas of living and existing. I really like how the phone screen turned out very in-focus with the character out kind of blurry. If I was to redo this photo I would make the environment darker so a glow from the phone screen could brighten the characters face. I feel that this would emphasize the physical effect of social media more.