Rationale for Practical Work / Consumerism

The image is a response to ideas surrounding the theme of consumerism and has been influenced by the work of Danish photographer, Per Johansen. I have chosen to investigate this theme because it has been discussed in great detail as part of various modules this year and it's an issue that effects all of us. 

Below is a selection of still life images from a series entitled Mæt (full) by the aforementioned Per Johansen. The work deals with the notion that we as human beings find it increasingly difficult to know when we've had enough.

Johansen has chosen to address our vast consumption, by stuffing everyday foods into plastic containers, which ascribes to our consumer mentality and excessive consumption. I do however question how he has managed to stuff some of the food items into the plastic bottles. The image featuring numerous chicken legs for example, can not have been filled in the implied manner, that is through the top of the bottle. It’s possible that a suitably sized section has been cut out of the back of each object. Unfortunately, that somewhat defeats the concept. 

http://www.copenhagenphotofestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/maet_stor.jpg

http://www.oitzarisme.ro/wp-content/Johansen1.jpg

My images are in a sense a visual opposite to those by Per Johansen, but deal with issues similar to those mentioned previously. The empty shopping basket reflects the indecision individuals can be met with when confronted by a vast range of consumer products. This is the final outcome; selected for its framing of the subject, a happy medium between the two developmental images that can be seen below. 

Here are the developmental images. 

Bibliography  

Enandenside.dk. 2014. En anden side. [online] Available at: http://www.enandenside.dk/maet.php# [Accessed: 25 Mar 2014].