Artist Statement
Going without camera and lens to make my images, I work in complete darkness with unexposed film and chemistry. With curiosity, I arranged objects; camera lens filters and gelatin filters on the surface and above Polaroid type 809. Using a flash to expose these arrangements to light, in an instant the shadow and color leave imprints on the film. Each unique photogram is the material exposed and processed, becoming a physical memory of that moment in time.
I have also made effort to comment on the nearing end of analog and chemical film and paper. As electric sensors replace gelatin film, something aesthetic may be lost.
In the six examples shown, the film used is out-of-date, effecting the color and background. Though it is inconsistent chemically, it is part of the work.
*As my material of choice becomes less available, its beauty and uniqueness becomes more appealing. The images are a way of seeing tools of the trade as subjects of art not utility.
Process Statement
Unique Polaroid Photograms
In complete darkness, I assemble objects or foods in partially rehearsed arrangements, once ready they are exposed to stroboscopic light.
Each photogram is the physical proof of that instant memory created in the dark.
Polaroid no longer produces Type 809 film, making these Photograms a finite body of work.
Currently a New York City based artist for over ten years, Brian Buckley is using chemical photographic processes to tell stories. His work involves gelatin silver paper, cyanotype, expired Polaroid film, model building and large-scale printing.
In 1999, he received his BFA in photography from Parsons School of Design. Buckley began making photograms and other alternative process photographs along with small temporary sculptures.
His photographs and photo-based installations are in the collections of The Brooklyn Historical Society, the Washington D.C. Concordia, The Center for Contemporary Art, Santé Fe, New Mexico, Gods Love We Deliver and many other private and public collections.
Buckley’s works has been published in the Collector’s Guide to New Art Photography, published by Humble Arts, The Photo Review, and New York Magazine and select others.
He was awarded Best of Show at the Photo Center North West, Seattle in December 2010 for his photograms of glass sculptures.
Buckley’s works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Most recently in "Tales from a darkroom" at the Santa Fe Museum of Art, New Mexico and in “index” at Abrazo Inferno Gallery in New York City as well as Rayko Photo in San Francisco, the Chelsea Art Museum, Camel Art Space, Brooklyn and Atelier Friderichstrausse in Siegen, Germany.
One area of Buckley’s focus is documenting art and artists for archive and publication. He has worked with Adam Fuss, Ghada Amer, Louise Fishman, Bill Jensen and Janis Kounelis.
In addition Buckley teaches photography to teens in the downtown Manhattan area and is a collaborating artist to Adam Fuss Studio, working on the world’s largest Daguerreotypes and some of the last CIBA chrome large-scale photograms.
Buckley enjoys participating in local activities, water based especially.
He is an active member of the Manhattan Sailing Club, working towards his seafaring licenses.