The Anti-Sublime:
Wilderness, Portraiture and the Grotesque
Colour Digital Self-Portraits
within the Tasmanian Wilderness
JJ Voss ArtistÕs
Statement October 2004
Over twenty-five
years of photographing people other than myself I have gained insights into
aspects of celebrity, fame and infamy. Issues regarding power relations and
photographic ethics recurred.
Intrusiveness
and objectification are claimed to be inherent in unposed photography of
people. Via disrupting subjectsÕ idealised self-images I discovered such
photographic practice was often an inadvertent trigger for suffering subjectsÕ
indignation, or worse. Self-portraiture, then, seemed like a perfect way to
ÔlevelÕ the process of ÔobjectificationÕ - in a subjective manner! The camera,
now turned back to front, became a vehicle to exercise the same process of
critical enquiry on myself.
I began to think an anti-iconic form of mythology could take shape - an ethos far removed from the cult of celebrity. Images of non-celebrities might operate on a much deeper psychological and emotional level for viewers than Ôstar shotsÕ.
Then, after
reflecting on self-portrait works by Moffatt, Coplans, Parr and Sherman, and
SobieszekÕs Camera I
essay, it became apparent that self-portraiture - overtly person-specific, even
self-centred - could often strike surprisingly broad chords of recognition.
ThatÕs a delicious tension: coexisting alongside tenets of camera intrusion and
personal idiosyncrasy.
This series also partly articulates my experiences as an outsider. Formerly an outsider photographing others - paparazzo artist and photo-phalanxer of the Media, now, one who is neither logger, tourist nor radical conservationist and one who is, in some degree, outside himself.
Another central
interest in the series is the relationship between the subject and the natural
environment. Many now regard non-urban and non-bucolic domains to be no longer
threatening or limitless. The extreme of that philosophy is demonstrated by an
attitude of reverence - almost guilt - for oneÕs simple presence in wilderness.
It seems some wish to ÔdisappearÕ or at least be ÔtransparentÕ in their
presence. Commercial co-opting of images of the wilderness provides an
interesting corroboration - in such images one usually sees majestic vistas, in
sunny detail, perhaps sparingly dotted with small-scaled humans who are there
to pay, look and then leave.
This series is
irreverent, after the works of Tasmanian wilderness photographers such
as Truchanas, Dombrovskis and Bell.
Despite deeply appreciating images by those and other photographers, IÕm very
cautious about sweeping assumptions that either lie behind or are brought to
such imagery. ItÕs often just too close to National GeographicÕs brand of upbeat na•ve photoidealism.
Idealised paragons of wilderness imagery are just that, and often donÕt convey
senses of factual realities of those locations - such as poor weather or the
physical trials of getting there, or, donÕt adequately convey personal,
psychological or emotional aspects of being there.
Humour and incongruity are also elements used, which seek to
question the way both ÔnaturalÕ locations and middle-aged less-than-glamorous
persons tend to be regarded by an image-preoccupied and evaluative Public.
In his conflated
occupation of the picture frame the human subject demonstrates arcane and
romantic aspects of middle-aged Australiana maleness including: a gauche
self-reliance, laconic grotesqueness and a hint larrikinism. Perhaps his
unfashionable, slightly eccentric looming over the scene might provoke further
thoughts about the dynamic between humans and the land.
This series is
not so much Ôenvironmental portraitureÕ, but where portraiture ruptures
landscape and the person depicted predominates over landscape. Here,
self-scrutiny doesnÕt simply serve as a departure point for anthropological or
sociological conjecture; it also calls into question the conventions and
politics of wilderness imagery. ItÕs a contemporary heresy where 'famous',
'timeless' and 'natural' locations act merely as pictorial stage sets, and the
human subject obscures half the view. ItÕs a bit like relegating the wilderness
to scenic art backdrop status, as evidenced in early Hollywood film productions
And, I contend, itÕs close to the opposite of the Nineteenth Century conception
of sublimeness experienced within the wilderness.
John (J.J.) Voss, PhD CURRICULUM
VITAE
BORN: 1955, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia
CURRENTLY: based in Hobart,
Tasmania, Australia
Photographic
artist, photojournalist, photomedia educator, image analyst and consultant
CONTACT DETAILS:
Telephone: +61 3 6223 6538 bus & a hrs (with message machine)
Mobile: 0411560052 (note, no full messagebank service)
E-mail:
jjvimage@yahoo.com.au alt e-mail: John.Voss@utas.edu.au
AWARDS:
2003 Doctor of Philosophy,
University of Tasmania, Hobart
1996 Australian Postgraduate
Award, Australian Government
1991 Master of Fine Art,
School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
1990 Arts Tasmania Travel
Grant, Tasmanian Government
1989 Commonwealth
Postgraduate Award, Australian Government
1988 Bachelor of Fine Art,
School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
1985 Associate Diploma of
Art, Craft and Design, School of Art, University of Tasmania
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
& INSTALLATIONS:
2004 TWENTY-ONE Albury Regional Art
Gallery, Albury
1999 Inaugural PhD (Fine
Art) Candidature Exhibition, Plimsoll Gallery,
University of Tasmania, Hobart
1996 Ratio Decedendi III,
Albury
Regional Art Gallery, Albury
1996 Ratio Decedendi III, Entrepot Gallery,
Centre for the Arts, Hobart
1995 Ratio Decedendi II, Horsham Art Gallery,
Horsham
1993 Ratio Decedendi, University of Tasmania
Gallery, Launceston
1992 Photophobia II (Parties), Roches Restaurant
(opposite Parliament House), Hobart
1990 Photophobia, The Australian Centre
for Photography, Sydney
Photophobia, Chameleon Contemporary
Artspace, Hobart
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2005 About Face, S.H. Ervin Gallery,
Sydney
2004 Ulrick &
Schubert Photography Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise
2004 Surface Tension: The
Artist in the Image,
Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney
2004-03 The Self-Portrait Show, Artholes Mirrorframes
Gallery, Gertrude St., Melbourne
2003 Launceston City Art
Prize
(selected section) Academy Gallery, SVPA, Launceston
2003 National
Photographic Purchase Award, Albury Regional Art Gallery, Albury
2003 Travelling the
Roundabout,
School of Visual and Performing Arts, Launceston
2003 The Hobart City Art
Prize,
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart
2003-02 There, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania,
Hobart
2002 Hats Off to
Rainlover,
Academy Gallery, School of Visual and Perf. Arts, Launceston
2002 Spur, Academy Gallery,
School of Visual and Performing Arts, Launceston
2002 Summer Salon, Centre for
Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
2001 National Photographic
Purchase Award, Albury Regional Art Gallery
1999 Me (The Self-Portrait)
Fine Arts Gallery, UTas at Hobart, and Artspace, Sydney
1997-95 Superfictions 4&2, Australian national and
then international tour
1995 Summer Salon, Centre for Contemporary
Photography, Melbourne
1994 Agfa National
Invitation Photographic Award, Albury Regional Art Centre
1994-93 Kodak Acquisition Fund 10th Anniversary Show, National Gallery of
Australia, Canberra
1992 Pivot, Despard Gallery,
Hobart
Postcard Exchange
Exhibition,
Queensland College of Art, Griffith University
1990 Recent Acquisitions, The Australian
National Gallery, Canberra
1989 UTas School of Art
(Hobart) Promotional Show, South East Asia Tour
1988 Wilderness 88, Long Gallery, Hobart; Landfall, Chameleon Gallery,
Hobart
1987 Child Sponsorship
Show,
Savage River, Tasmania
1987-6 ETC, The Australian Centre for Photography,
Sydney, then national tour
1986 One Offs, Freeform Gallery,
Hobart; Adult Education Exhibition, Long Gallery, Hobart
SELECTED WORKS IN
COLLECTION:
The National Gallery of
Australia, Canberra (119059-119061 inclusive, 177731, 179114)
The Albury Regional Art
Gallery
The Australian
Broadcasting Corporation, Hobart
The Office of Ms Judy Jackson,
MHA, Tasmania
The University of
Tasmania
Professional Radio
Engineers' Institute of Australia, Sydney
Devonport Art Gallery
(1984-056 & 057)
ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS
PUBLISHED:
Photofile, No.75 Summer 2005,
page 25
The Advocate 26 Jul 2004, page 5
The Mercury April 30 - July 7 2004
Real Estate Guides & various advertorial features
The Weekend
Australian,
14-15 February 2004, Review, page 13
The Canberra Times, 2 August 2000, pages 1
and 5 & 1 August 2000, page 5
The Maritime WorkersÕ
Journal,
July/August 2000, cover & pages 4-5
The Advocate, 29 March 2000, pages 4
and 5
The Launceston
Examiner,
29 March 2000, page 3
Photofile, No. 58, December 1999,
page 23
The Launceston
Examiner,
22 January 1998 pages 1,3,8 & 21 Jan 98 pp 4 & 5
New Idea, 17 January 1998, pages
13 and 95
Photofile, March 1996, No. 47,
pages 36, 37, 38
The Sunday Tasmanian, 17 March 1996, page 15
The Launceston
Examiner,
15 October 1995, pages 2 and 6
The Bulletin, 26 September 1995,
page 46
Art Monthly Australia, August 1995, No. 82,
page 23
The Independent
Monthly,
April 1993, page 15, (ISSN 1033-9957)
The Bulletin, 9 February 1993, page
16
The Bulletin, 19 January - 2
February 1993, pages 84, 85 and 97
Correct Exposure, November 1992, page 29
The Bulletin, 1 September 1992, page
22
Press Press - Spring 1992, pg 1;
Winter 1992, pg 1; March 1992, pp. 22-3 (ISSN 0819-1565)
The Launceston
Examiner,
9 June 1992, pages 1 and 3
The Bulletin, 18 February 1992, page
19
Eyeline, Spring/Summer 1990,
No.13, page 4 (ISSN 0818-8734)
ANG Association News, July/August, 1990,
page 14
On The Streets, Nos. 479 and 480 pp. 3
and 15 respectively (NBF 5978)
Simply Living, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.
100, 104 (ISSN 314-3155)
The Newcastle Herald, 12 May 1989
Salamanca Arts
Festival Program 1988,
pp. 4,5&7
National Association
for Visual Arts Newsletter, March 1988, page 3 (NGB 7726)
National Clearing
House for Youth Studies, V.5 No.3, pp. 7,25,26,33,41,59 (ISSN 0817-4733)
ART
EDUCATION POSITIONS:
2003-01 Full-time Head of Printmedia Studio, School of Visual and Performing Arts,
UTas, Launceston
1999 Full-time
Head of Printmedia Studio, School of Visual and Performing Arts, University of
Tasmania, Launceston (Semester Two)
1997-95 Part-time Lecturer, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
1994 Full-time Lecturer, School of Art and Cultural Heritage,
Charles Sturt University, Albury
1993 Full-time
Lecturer, School of Creative Arts, Charles Sturt University, Albury
PHOTOGRAPHIC
EDUCATION POSITIONS:
1998-95 Part-time Tutor, Adult Education, Tasmanian Government, Hobart
Part-time Lecturer, Department of Urban Design, UTas, Hobart,
1994 Relief
Teaching, Riverina Institute of TAFE, Albury Campus
1992 Part-time
Lecturer, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Launceston
Part-time Lecturer, Department of Urban Design, UTas, Hobart
Part-time Lecturer, Riawunna Aboriginal Education Centre, Launceston
1992-85 Part-time
Tutor, Adult Education, Tasmanian Government, Hobart
1991 Part-time
Lecturer, Department of Urban Design, UTas, Hobart
1990 Part-time
Lecturer, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
1990-88 Part-time
Tutor, Tasmanian State Institute of Technology, Hobart Study Centre
1988 Relief
Teaching, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
SELECTED
PHOTOGRAPHIC EMPLOYMENT:
2004 The
Hobart Mercury (relieving
principal real estate photographer f/t 9 wks & editorial casual)
2004
Defence Housing Authority, Canberra
2004-94 Front Page Photography, Hobart
2002-01 University
of Tasmania
2001-00 Australian
Associated Press
2000 The
Bulletin
1999 New
Idea
1998 The
Launceston Examiner
1995-92 The
Bulletin
1995 G3
Advertising; Conference Photographer, A.C.U.A.D.S., Hobart
1995
& 1992 The
Launceston Examiner
1992 Conference Photographer, A. I. A. E. 12th National Conference, Hobart
1991 Agence
France-Presse; Community Aid Abroad
1990 Conference
Photographer, Art in Working Life, Melbourne
1990-85 University
of Tasmania, Hobart
1989 The
Australian Newspaper; National Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania
1989-88 Australian
Associated Press
1988 The
International Papermakers' Conference, Hawaii
1988
& 1987 Salamanca
Arts Festival, Festival Photographer
BIBLIOGRAPHY: (Articles & reviews
mentioning self)
Photofile No. 58 ÔVoiceprints:
SurfacingÕ page 13 - Sandy Edwards
and ArtistÕs Statement, page 23 - J.J. Voss
(written by self)
Periphery Nos. 40-1,
Spring/Summer 1999-2000, page 28, (ISSN 1034-0580)
ÔA Decade of the Arts in
TasmaniaÕ- Issues and Highlights - Diana Klaosen
Photofile May 1999, No. 56, page
60 ÔRising Stars in Tasmanian PhotographyÕ, - Diana Klaosen
The Mercury April 1996 page 8,
ÔPoliticians Are His Photographic FascinationÕ, - John Briggs
The Saturday Mercury, 30 Mar 96 p 38, ÔPoses
Not Always Politically CorrectÕ - Joerg Andersch
JJ Voss, Bibliography
contd.
Photofile, March 1996, # 47, pp. 36-8 inclusive ÔJ.J. Voss: Seizing
PowerÕ- Edward Colless
The Wimmera
Mail-Times,
5 May 1995, page 9, ÔA Different View of PoliticiansÕ
The Age, 7 January 1994, page
13, 'A Snapshot of Photography', - Greg Neville
The Border Mail, 26 March 1993,
'Peering Beneath the Image', - Maria Galinovic
Press Press, Winter 1992, page 3,
'But Is It Art?Õ - Rex Direen, (ISSN 0819-1565)
The Mercury, 25 July 1992, page 21,
'Personal Images in Photo Works'- Kate Larby
Press Press, March 1992, pp. 22-5
inclusive, 'Sean Kelly and John Voss'
- Sean Kelly and Tony
Ryan
The Southern Star, 10 January 1992, 'Voss
Images Remain While Time Goes By'
The Mercury, 14 December 1991,
'Pollie Watching via Voss' Lens' - Sean Kelly
The Mercury, 23 November 1991,
'Alternative View on Exhibition', - Rex Direen
Eyeline, No. 13, Spring/Summer
1990, pp. 42-3, 'J.J. Voss - Photophobia'
- Heather Curnow, (ISSN
0818-8734)
ANG Association News, July/August 1990,
'Photography: Recent Acquisitions' - Helen Ennis
On The Streets, No.480, page 15,
'Photophobia', - Paul Canning. (NBF 5987)
The Sydney Morning
Herald,
23 March 1990, page 20, 'Galleries' - Christopher Allen
The Sunday Tasmanian, 20 September 1987,
p.33, 'A Real Touch of Class', Margaretta Pos
ELECTRONIC INTERVIEWS
& REVIEWS:
Prime TV News, 24
February 2004, works from TWENTY-ONE shown
Southern Cross TV News,
20 March 2003, ÔArts Wrap,Õ image in Hobart Art Prize shown
ABC TV, ÔStateline,Õ 22
March 1996, interview and ÔRatio DecedendiÕ shown
Radio 2 REM-FM, 20
December 1994, interview by Jennifer Hunt
Prime TV Channel 7 News,
15 June 1994, work from 'Ratio Decedendi' shown
ABC Radio 7ZR, 11
December 1991, 'North & South', interview by Patty Lucas
ABC Radio JJJ, 6
December 1991, interview by David Chalmers
ABC TV - Ô7.30 Report,Õ
22 November 1991, 'Photophobia II' shown
TAS-TVT 6 News, 19
November 1991, 'Photophobia II' shown
ABC Radio 7ZR, 17
February 1990, 'In Tempo' - review on 'Photophobia' by
Lindsay Broughton and
Sandy McCutcheon
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:
2003
Sub-Dean
(Art); Chair, SVPA Research Committee; Member, Management Committee;
School of Visual and
Performing Arts, UTas at Launceston
2002
Graduate
and Postgraduate Exhibition Curator, SVPA, University of Tasmania at Launceston
1999
Acting
Honours and Postgraduate Co-Ordinator (Art) SVPA, UTas, Launceston
Judge: Amnesty
International Photographic Competition, Hobart
1997 Photography with Canberra
Press Gallery (Federal Parliament) and in NSW Parliament
1996 Accredited Clinton
Visit Photographer; Guest Lecturer, School of Art, UTas, Launceston
1995 Course Development
Consultancy, Gippsland School of Art, Monash University
1994 MA (Visual and
Performing Arts), Supervisor, Charles Sturt University
1994-93 MA (Visual and Performing Arts), Selection
Committee, Charles Sturt University
1992 Speaker: Showing and
Selling Seminar, School of Art, UTas, Launceston
1992 Part-time study in Law
Faculty, University of Tasmania, Hobart
1991 Discussion Group Leader
(Visual Arts), Arts Industry Conference, Hobart
1991 Honorary Research
Associate, Photography Studio, School of Art, UTas, Hobart