Mike Weall
Bolton, United Kingdom
About the Artist:
My interest is in a wide range od subjects, in particular, I search fopr an unusual angle
or view,impromptu portraits, catching people un-posed. I look for natural patterns in such
things as graffiti, eroded surfaces, litter and patches of weathered ground
I make artwork because I feel driven to do so. My work is informed by my reactions to the
way people and events around me and from a wider range, impact on my senses. I reference a
wide range of artists and photographers, always attracted by the image and not the necessarily
the cocept behind it. I have found that, right or wrong, it allows me to absorb more and
reject less than I may otherwise do.
At the moment my work revolves around photography and video. I'm fascinated by the creative
possibilities offered by digital manipulation of images. That's not to say that every image
that I produce is manipulated and when manipulated it can by minor tweaks to full blown
abstraction.
Artist's Statement:
These photographs are part of a series based on my father, Maurice, who suffers from
vascular dementia and is in a care home with other sufferers.
One thing that struck me when taking these photographs was how much his
facial expressions seem to reflect a wider range of feelings and concerns of the
'human condition'. Depression, fear, isolation, etc are universal and these
expressions on the faces of mentally challenged individuals, speak much more
than word in creating emotions that we can all identify with.
