Eli Craven
Touching
Aug 1 - 31, 2024
I work conceptually with photographic images by re-evaluating the physical and psychological potential of the picture through sculptural and digital interventions. The works exist somewhere between the image and object, attempting to connect the representation and materials to some form of reality. I'm interested in the ubiquitous and mundane imagery of self-help books, instructional guides, and stock photos, which, upon close inspection, allude to a range of human fears and emotions. The research begins with the acts of looking and collecting then progresses to a critical investigation of the image and its relationship to ideologies of sexuality, desire, and death.
There is an undeniable relationship between the subconscious choices in my artwork and the environment in which I was raised. In my childhood home, magazines and movies were censored, select films and TV shows were forbidden, sexuality and death were seldom discussed. The power images hold was discovered through scrutinizing forbidden magazine collections, daytime soap operas, and movies. The impetus of my practice resides in the desire to see, only to discover nothing shocking. Instead, seemingly mundane imagery is isolated and fragmented, presenting a narrative exploring the inevitable, bizarre, and erotic nature of images.
Touching explores a sensory connection to images through material manipulation of instructional imagery, stock photography, and television clips. A tactile approach is taken to the handling of the photograph, implying physical action. Imagery from first-aid and anatomy texts are re-framed using wood panels and mirrored brass to distort and transform the original, potentially provoking a desire to see more. Hands printed on terry cloth become "hand towels," hanging in a suspended state. Collectively, Touching is intended to question how we physically interact with images and how they change over time.
Eli Craven (American, b.1979, he/him) is an American artist based in Lafayette, Indiana where he is an Assistant Professor of Photography at Purdue University. Craven’s research explores the role of images in processes of socialization, specifically in relationship to ideologies of sexuality, desire, and death. He creates images, sculptures, and installations that question and transform the inherent meaning of the photograph. Craven’s work is exhibited nationally and internationally. Most recently at Kant Gallery in Copenhagen, Denmark, KlompChing Gallery in Brooklyn, New York, and at the Unseen Photography Festival in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His work has also been widely published. Select publications and clients include Corriere della Sera Milan, Gestalten Publishing Berlin, Penguin Random House Barcelona, and The Paris National Opera.