On April 4th, a new display that highlighted the works of Rafael Montgomery Rodriguez ’24 and Daniel Slatkavitz ’24 opened to the Belmont Hill Community. The show “represents a selection of collaborative work from their year-long experience in AP 2D Art with a concentration in Photography,” Mr. Duarte said. The selected photographs showcased by the artists are presented in a black-and-white style, with a concentration on a specific subject in each frame.
Many of the pieces contain a human subject with a blurred face that prevents the viewer from recognizing any distinct characteristics. One work of art focuses on a man looking down at the ground while leaning against a brick wall. He is pictured with a white shirt and shoes, black pants, and hair, making the contrasting colors very apparent in the photo through the black and white depiction.
In the background of another photography piece by Daniel, a parking lot with blurred lines and a poorly kept street gate is visible. The subject himself wears a white jacket and dark pants – two contrasting colors that emphasize the apparent juxtaposition within the picture. In addition, he is looking straight at the camera – or viewer – and positions his body towards the center of the frame.
When asked about his favorite aspect of creating art, Daniel stated, “My favorite part of the art-making process is the activity of going out and shooting photos; it’s fun, relaxing, and a great way to exercise creativity.” In terms of obstacles and hardships throughout his art career, Daniel added that “the biggest challenge I face as a photographer is choosing what pictures I want to present to others. I feel like it stems from a fear of judgment and feeling like your work just isn’t ‘good enough’ or could be ‘better.’”
Some possible themes that the artists may have been trying to convey could be isolation – shown through the singular subjects that each photo focuses on – and identity – depicted by several of the individuals having their faces blurred, emphasizing the importance of how their surroundings characterize themselves. The artists challenge the reader by not directly focusing on the subjects, but instead observing the importance of the background and how the juxtaposition used in each photo plays a role in the overall message or idea. If students are interested in checking out the gallery on their own, then they should feel free to stop by the Landau Gallery to take a look at them in greater detail.
