Ben Gilberg
Ben Gilberg
artist statement
I like to read and walk at the same time—absorbing as I go. Its as if I am counting steps, exercising with subtle acknowledgements. I came to photography in this way, for the love of walking and to bolster my appreciation for the passage of time. These photographs find humor and sincerity in basic concepts like action, motion and placement. I use dumb logic to construct non-linear narratives. The goal is to find meaning in a methodology that resists definitions and subverts photography’s ability to locate.
My camera was originally designed as a copy machine for reproduction and conservation of fine art. I am using to record duration in an uncanny way, to alter the subject as it is being photographed.
Photography has its own emotion—always changing, reacting and remembering. How do we understand ourselves in this separate capacity with its own set of rules and inevitabilities? We can learn as much about ourselves from the cultural practice of photography as we can from the subjects in our images.
what do you love about the MFA program at RIT?
As an MFA at Rochester Institute of Technology I have pursued my photography with the support of an invested faculty and knowledgeable student body. I’ve had privileged access to the most wonderful equipment and facilities. My vocabulary has grown as my projects have taken shape. It was an emotional time to be studying photography in Rochester as Kodak filed for bankruptcy. There is a legacy of ingenuity and a dedication to photography in this region. My studies have been grounded in this context
anticipated graduation date: 2013
Ben Gilberg, Two Fingered Ring
Ben Gilberg, Snoot
Ben Gilberg, Felt and Box
Ben Gilberg, Logchop
Ben Gilberg, Hook