Equipoise:
creating a balance
equality in distribution, as of weight, relationship, or emotional
forces
state of balance
a weight or force that balances another
counterbalance
equilibrium
Plants - flowers, foliage, seeds, branches - have always fascinated
me both to grow and live with and to record in my photography. Although
other subject matter is also important to me, I always come back
to the plants. Their beauty, complexity, perfection of form speak
to me in a very basic way.
In a recent issue of “Nature Conservancy Magazine”, author Barry Lopez
states, “Increasingly our culture is shaped by culture and not by
landscape, so that our culture, spinning at an ever increasing rate,
increasingly refers only to itself.” This statement resonates with
me and brings into focus a critical purpose of my Florilegium photographs.
I create these images not just to revel in the beauty of my subjects
but also because I want to see them more widely represented in art
and brought to the attention of the viewer.
There is much wonderful art, created by brilliant artists, that
brings to our attention the details and truths of the human condition.
I am not one of those artists. My goal is to help the viewer see
more clearly the natural world around us, of which we are a part.
Perhaps, for us to conscientiously live in the natural world, we
need more references to it in our lives - so that we may come to
value it more. In our modern culture, inundated with self-reference,
I seek to put forth more images of the natural world. That's why
I've chosen the title "Equipoise" - I hope to contribute to creating
a balance.
Kim Kauffman, October 2004 |