Profile
Graham Govan (b. 1950), studied Fine Art Photography at Glasgow School of Art under Thomas Joshua Cooper, graduating in 2000. A member of Glasgow Print Studio and the Glasgow Group artists cooperative, Graham works with photography, digital media and printmaking to create still life, documentary and abstract works that feature the use of available light and contain a strong element of chance in their composition. In 2001, he was awarded a Scottish Arts Council grant to study printmaking at Dundee Contemporary Arts Print Studio. Graham has exhibited individually and in group shows. These have included: Newbery Gallery, Glasgow (2000), DCA Gallery, Dundee (2002), R. K. Burke Gallery, London (2002), Glasgow Art Fair (2004), Arteries Gallery, Glasgow (2005), Glasgow City Halls (2006), Bridge View Gallery, Aberdeen (2007), Tron Theatre, Glasgow (2008), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (2007 & 2008). His work is featured in various private collections throughout the UK and in Portfolio, Catalogue of Contemporary Photography.
About the Work
Having studied art briefly in the early 1970’s, I took up photography after receiving a camera as a gift. On processing and printing my first film, I realised instinctively this was the medium through which I would channel my creative energies. What started as a hobby has become a way of life. Establishing a distinctive style of work, or completing a particular project in any creative field is an achievement in itself, but the real challenge, I feel, is to continually develop your vision by experimenting with new ideas and working methods. This is what drives me forward and keeps me interested in this fascinating medium. Working with traditional film cameras and available light, my negatives are scanned, at high resolution into digital files and then output onto archival quality photographic and fine art papers.
‘Mysteries lie all around us, even in the most familiar things, waiting only to be perceived.’
- Wynn BullockI was drawn to still life initially because it provides the opportunity to engage with a variety of materials that are commonly available, although their inherent qualities are often taken for granted. My pictures are never pre-planned. I rely on intuitive, perceptual responses to guide me. I find the process of discovering patterns of colour, light and structure within an arrangement of natural or man-made materials extremely rewarding. While absorbed in this process I cease being conscious of the subject matter in its recognisable form, this allows abstract elements within the picture plane to influence the composition, creating the opportunity for unexpected images to emerge. Although I am aware of the clichés associated with this genre, I feel my pictures are as much about light and time as they are about representation, and I hope they provide the viewer with a space for contemplation and reflection.
My documentary work stems from a genuine interest in human behaviour and from observing people going about their everyday lives. I prefer to work candidly, because I am seeking a level of authenticity that is often lacking in posed situations. To some, this approach may seem intrusive, and perhaps even furtive. However, there is a long tradition within photography of depicting society in public places, and I believe strongly this type of picture making still has value in contemporary culture.
The abstract pieces I create are mostly the result of a random photographic encounter when something has caught my eye in passing - a torn poster, a shaft of light on a surface or a reflection on glass. Through cropping and digital manipulation the final image often bears little resemblance to the original.
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