About Edward Burden...
My work is ultimately about Consciousness... ...that glorious and horrible point of awareness, and "Being." I never felt "of" the world, but rudely placed in it. I was surrounded by object worshippers. I became one. As a child, and into adulthood, I grew up and lived in the home of one of the President's of The Museum Of Modern Art, MOMA. I played with the Giacometti, and fantasized with my brother about removing the Picasso harlequin from it's frame, and escaping to Europe to sell it. As an observer, I quickly made friends with the 35mm camera my mother gave me, for a trip with her on an underwater archeological dig, in Greece. The Rollei was given to me in secret, because my Austrian arms dealer/step father didn't think a boy deserved such quality. As I grew, tormented by being sent away, I found solace, and distance from a world I didn't feel safe in, through my camera. I loved Kodachrome, and Ilford HP-5. Tri-X was used in all schooling, of course...
What captures my eye most, in photography, is the essence of life, or Consciousness ...as seen through eyes, and faces. Composition is key, obviously, but without consciousness somehow being represented...I lose interest quickly. I never crop my "art." I feel that i have the moment to capture a composition through my viewfinder, and that is that. I never use "photoshop," or alter my Art images. I may change the exposure a bit, as one might when printing with negatives. I embrace the instant gratification of digital photography, but I shoot and print like it's film.
I feel I can photograph anything. I have always played with light and continue to emphasize that in my work. I use objects that mimic consciousness, and it's nuances, through glass eyes, empty eye sockets (dolls/skulls), and skulls as the containers of eyes and gray matter...and theoretically, Consciousness.
I love Photography. I take it very seriously, and I have a tremendous amount of fun with it. Thank you for taking the time to look at my work.
Edward