David Welch Material World

About

With this series Welch presents to us a thought-provoking project that takes influence from Karl Marxʼs theory of ʻObjectificationʼ, a concept that considers humankindʼs relationship to materially existing forms. For Marx, ʻobjectificationʼ is the process through which individuals externalize themselves through the objects they produce. These forms in turn help us to progress as human beings and acts as symbols for self-understanding and reflection.
In our contemporary world however a small minority of people control the means of production. Individuals are therefore forced to objectify themselves through the goods made available to them, which are nowadays mass-produced and in the form of consumer commodities.

Following Marxʼs concept, Welchʼs self-constructed totems of modern-day materially existing objects serve to convey our contemporary social biography. Using large- format photography, the assemblages are subsequently preserved within his images.

The photographs then serve and remain as emblematic mirrors for our contemplation.
By creating and photographing larger-than-life totems of toys, televisions, clothing, cars and other mass-produced commodities Welchʼs Material World series exposes and emphasizes the material world we live in. His photographs speak of accumulation and mass-consumption and reflect our contemporary consumer milieu, leaving us to question: why do we feel compelled to consume?

David Welchʼs Material World will be the inaugural exhibition in Roman Road newly established project space. On the occasion of the exhibition, a portfolio of the fourteen prints and a catalogue will be released. Material World opens on March 21, 2013 and will be on display through May 18th.

About David Welch
David Welch is an American fine art photographer. His work explores social issues, using large-format photography steeped in conceptual influences from art history and economic theory. David was recently selected by Louise Clements to be part of the FORMAT 13 Festival. In 2012, he was named one of the Magenta Foundationʼs Flash Forward winners and, in 2011, he was selected as one of Photolucidaʼs Critical Mass top 50 photographers. David is a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned his MFA in photography. He lives on the Island of Marthaʼs Vineyard with his partner Trina, daughter Camden and newborn, Declan.