By Clara Chalmers
Spring 2019: the Polygon art gallery announced the finalists of the Chesterfield Photo Contest, among them, “Untitled.” The photo featured a bathroom selfie - commonplace enough, with muted hues - probably taken by an iPhone. Scrawled over the top were red slashes; viciously blotting out the subject’s eyes, and the objects encircling him; a sink, a stall, a hoodie. It was unconventional. Fresh. The judges interpreted it to suggest a sort of distortion experience by the selfie-taker. Viewers glanced at the award-winning photo and blink - or perhaps raise their eyebrows in confoundment. “Untitled” is unlike any of the polished entries - unrefined, hasty. Nevertheless, striking in its rawness.
No one was more amazed than the photographer himself; Nicholas Szeto. “Nic,” a grade eleven at Collingwood, is distinguished by an easy-going nature, and zeal for sports. “I love playing and watching football.” His interests revolve around this passion and, often, he can be seen hurling across the field with seemingly inexhaustible energy. In his grade ten year, with characteristic nonchalance, he enrolled in Mr. Francis’ photo class. Any unearthly pull towards photography did not prompt his enrollment, rather the simple fact his friends were taking the course too. He spent the bulk of the year in ease, flourishing off the encouragement of Mr. Francis. He approached the art of taking photos devoid of deliberateness - casually snapping pictures, and overlaying each with scrawls ascribed to no particular meaning.
Spring 2019: the Polygon art gallery announced the finalists of the Chesterfield Photo Contest, among them, “Untitled.” The photo featured a bathroom selfie - commonplace enough, with muted hues - probably taken by an iPhone. Scrawled over the top were red slashes; viciously blotting out the subject’s eyes, and the objects encircling him; a sink, a stall, a hoodie. It was unconventional. Fresh. The judges interpreted it to suggest a sort of distortion experience by the selfie-taker. Viewers glanced at the award-winning photo and blink - or perhaps raise their eyebrows in confoundment. “Untitled” is unlike any of the polished entries - unrefined, hasty. Nevertheless, striking in its rawness.
No one was more amazed than the photographer himself; Nicholas Szeto. “Nic,” a grade eleven at Collingwood, is distinguished by an easy-going nature, and zeal for sports. “I love playing and watching football.” His interests revolve around this passion and, often, he can be seen hurling across the field with seemingly inexhaustible energy. In his grade ten year, with characteristic nonchalance, he enrolled in Mr. Francis’ photo class. Any unearthly pull towards photography did not prompt his enrollment, rather the simple fact his friends were taking the course too. He spent the bulk of the year in ease, flourishing off the encouragement of Mr. Francis. He approached the art of taking photos devoid of deliberateness - casually snapping pictures, and overlaying each with scrawls ascribed to no particular meaning.
|
|
|
“I wasn’t supposed to be an artist,” says Nic. His aptitude was not preordained by his family background, nor any time investment on his part. The gift materialized like a bolt from the blue - and as a Christian, Nic attributes his skill to God. He is grateful, yet clings to his casual attitude. “I do art when I feel like it.” And thus, when inspiration arises, often in the form of his dog, Stafford, Nic will pull out his phone and document the moment. In minutes, he has created a work of art — a fragment of his mood, a fusion of experiences and thoughts.
His process reminds me of Basquiat. Like the famous graffitist, Nic has the confidence to expel his thoughts into a public format- into artworks devoid of any filter. He ignored the rules - and fashioned his own, adhering to his spontaneous slant on life. The pieces he produces are compelling and dynamic; not bogged down by carefully crafted meaning. Although capable of bearing serious themes, each seems adorned in an ineradicable sense of fun.
Nic is not too concerned about the trajectory of his ability. He intends to maintain photography as a hobby - and perhaps acquire a camera to improve the quality of his photos. His current portfolio is expanding, containing a variety of pictures that continue to strike his audience in an unexpected way, will look closer — asking themselves why this photo exists and how it managed to capture their attention. Nic encourages this manner of speculation. He likes the idea of producing something simple - of which can inspire so many questions.
His process reminds me of Basquiat. Like the famous graffitist, Nic has the confidence to expel his thoughts into a public format- into artworks devoid of any filter. He ignored the rules - and fashioned his own, adhering to his spontaneous slant on life. The pieces he produces are compelling and dynamic; not bogged down by carefully crafted meaning. Although capable of bearing serious themes, each seems adorned in an ineradicable sense of fun.
Nic is not too concerned about the trajectory of his ability. He intends to maintain photography as a hobby - and perhaps acquire a camera to improve the quality of his photos. His current portfolio is expanding, containing a variety of pictures that continue to strike his audience in an unexpected way, will look closer — asking themselves why this photo exists and how it managed to capture their attention. Nic encourages this manner of speculation. He likes the idea of producing something simple - of which can inspire so many questions.