Untitled

I can't think of a pithy title for this post, so I'll simple called it Untitled. If you think of one, post it in the comments.

Last month I saw a collection of photographs on a wall at Princeton University's temporary Art Museum on Hullfish Street (their main art museum closed just after the start of the pandemic for a four year renovation that is lasting longer than planned, which is normal for construction projects).

This was part of the larger exhibit called Don't we touch each other just to prove we are here that ran through August 7.

There were many large photographs, and this assortment of tinier pictures curated by New Zealander Patrick Pound. I don't like to share artist's work without their permission, but I wanted to show the larger sense of what he created. I'd love to meet him on my travels and learn more, especially after reading this:

Pound's artistic practice is rooted in collecting. He is fascinated by systems of cataloguing, archiving, and conservation. He often collects objects and photographs that have been overlooked or taken for granted. Here, a group of snapshots highlights the unique kinship between humans and animals and the ways in which they connect with one another. Pound playfully explores the relationship between people and their pets. He eschews categorical boundaries to consider existential commonalities with creatures that often mean more to a person than their family members or friends, raising the possibility that establishing sociality and satisfying emotional needs is not exclusive to humans. Pound's work reflects on questions of animal sentience, compassion , and ethical obligations prompted by close cohabitation across species. Quietly poignant, the installation of photographs reveals how a simple gesture can unite unlikely friends, affirming a shared vulnerability and dependence.

This is a collection of photographs of people with animals. My first thought when I saw it was of a shop in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market that had a bunch of random pictures in it — the kind you find when cleaning out someone’s home after they passed away. They meant something to someone at one time. How cool would it be to create a story around a random assortment like a Ransom Riggs’ Miss Peregrine book? 

When I looked at the artist’s information it turns out he lives in Melbourne. The photos may actually be from that shop. I learned he came to Princeton to arrange the photos exactly how he wanted them. 

Makes me love traveling even more when I make these random connections. 

The next exhibit is Under a Southern Sky: Identity and Environment in Australian Photography. A good excuse to head into Princeton.