Jeremy Chandler Camouflage Interview

Jeremy Chandler is traveling to Atlanta this week in support of his latest photographic installation titled, “Camouflage,” at the Hagedorn Foundation. Jeremy’s body of work exhibits photographic images that address the feminization of masculinity with visual antidotes featuring male’s mythological role in society. (Above, AJ Walking, 2008)

I caught up with Jeremy Chandler and asked him a couple of questions to get ready for this great exhibition. (Above, Sid and Eric, 2008)

mM : Your work was recently chosen by the Hagedorn Foundation Gallery in a thematic exhibition titled, Camouflage January 5 through February 12 in Atlanta, Georgia. Please share a little bit about the exhibition’s title, Camouflage.

JEREMY : Hagedorn approached me about doing a show after I met the gallery director this summer during a portfolio review in Atlanta. It is a two-person show with another artist, Kristine Potter, who is showing a series of black and white portraits of West Point cadets. In both Kristine’s and my own work, the figures are dressed in some form of camouflage, whether it is traditional military uniforms, hunting “camo” or some type of covering that cloaks/conceals. So taken literally, the show’s title refers to the dress of the subjects in the images. However, metaphorically, I think it refers to the concealing of one’s identity by aligning with some greater cultural archetype. This is an idea present in both of our work independently and I think contextualizing our photos together creates an interesting dialogue. (Pictured above: Eric in a Ghillie Suit/Flowers, 2011, archival pigment print, 40x50")

mM : How many photographic pieces will you be presenting? Describe your process in evolving your themes revealed in the hunter and Ghillie Suit series.

JEREMY : I’m showing seven pieces total - four hunting photos and three large ghillie suit prints. The process of taking the photos remains similar. I still use my friends in the photos and scout locations in advance of the shoot. The main difference is the amount of labor put into making the props. While I have long made props and costumes for my narrative images, the suits require a higher level of craft and much more time to construct. The suits themselves become sculptural objects and the images become more about the prop than in previous works. There is also the shift of having one man in the image rather than two. This definitely changes how the images read, as there is the loss of tension between the two characters. However, I like the ambiguity of the suit pictures because the character could be stalking something or hiding from something that might be hunting him. Through that uncertainty, I feel the space outside the frame is activated and there is tension created by that. (Pictured above: Ghillie Suit 3/Flowers, 2011, archival pigment print, 40x50")

mM : What are you up to these days? And what is next for Jeremy Chandler?

JEREMY : I’m mostly keeping busy with my artwork and teaching. I recently made a couple new photos that I’m excited about, one new ghillie suit and another on a recent trip to the Appalachian Mountains. Last year, I collaborated on a short film titled “Coventry” with my friend Shawn Cheatham. The film is being shown at the Beloit International Film Festival this February in Wisconsin. Shawn and I are flying up for the festival and I’m really looking forward to it. It should be a unique experience to see our film shown in that context. (Above, Pot Hunters, 2008).

Kind thanks to Jeremy Chanlder for sharing his vision. You can see meet Jeromy and see more of his work in person this week at the Hagedorn Foundation Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. “Camouflage” features photographic work by Jeromy Chandler and Kristine Potter with an artist reception on Thursday, January 12 from 6 to 8:30PM and artist lecture on Saturday, January January 14 from 1 to 4PM. Visit Hagedorn Foundation Gallery for more information, contact the Mindy Solomon Gallery for available work or read the 2011 interview with Jeremy Chandler. Enjoy. (Pictured above: Ghillie Suit 1/Flowers, 2011, archival pigment print, 40x50")

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