Task #4: Alex Walker

My inspiration for this one was obviously Olaf's painted people series. While looking at the photos I struggled to find meaning in them, and while some contained possible metaphors or recognizable references, some of them seemed to aim for the exact opposite; for the photographs themselves to be the object, not an interpretation of a separate truth. With a similar strategy and an intentional lack of concept behind me, I set forward to paint a couple hands, compose and make this.
A few of you asked me about it in the studio and speculated on possible themes or higher-meanings, but I assure you, it means whatever you would like it mean. It is only itself.
Alex Walker

Alexander Walker: Task One

When looking into Struth's city landscapes I noticed that a lot of his photographs showed cities as alien, strange and inhuman. Many of his works also seemed to represent a level of the city's unconscious visually. Keeping this in mind when I went to New York, I tried to create an image here that makes the cityscape look as intimidating and strong as I could. The idea was to apply Struth's formula for cityscape to New York; to show the city as overwhelming, and to capture the idea of feeling "like an ant beneath giants".
Something I kept in mind was that Struth's city images almost never showed people. While mine contains cars I feel that it doesn't really change the concept. The cars are very secondary and while people are obviously associated with vehicles, there is a difference in tone when showing the two. Neither did I feel it entirely necessary to follow Struth's formula to the letter.
Alex Walker