Marianne Mueller Images

Marianne Mueller

Marianne Mueller's series "A Part of My Life" was shown to me by Todd Hido. She is one of the first artists Hido introduced me to. After looking at her work over and over again, I feel so compelled to continue with what I am doing but take it to the next level. She takes very abstract photographs of her life and aspects surrounding it. Her images are simple but hold value and truth to them because of the complexity the subject holds. I love her work because it does not just focus on photographs. She explores herself and others in a multitude of ways...through videos, diptychs, drawings, etc. Her series "Combine" is probably my favorite of hers and has been the most inspiring. In that series she combines photographs kind of like the ones seen in "A Part of my Life" but she proceeds to show a line drawing of some sort paired with it. The feeling that these diptychs give me is overwhelming. I think it is because I feel like she is so good and I want to be like her or the fact that I have always wanted to include some other form of art with my photographs and to see it actually played out so beautifully is amazing to me.

"COMBINE (kom'bain) explores a way of looking at the world that manifests itself once you leave behind the orders of chronology, subject matter, and memory. I depart from my own archive and its structure and start to combine images taken in various contexts. There are mirror effects, doublings, contrasts, a kind of caleidoscope disrupting linear time, its parallel and sequential logic. An abstract fiction starts to emerge from my visual vocabulary." -Marianne Mueller

Artist Lecture: Todd Hido

I was fortunate enough to meet with the visiting artist, Todd Hido, this past month. Meeting with him opened my eyes to many new artists and concepts found in my work. I realized certain things about my work that I never once thought of before until he spoke to me. After showing him all my work and what I have done the past two years, he could tell right off where I was heading and the direction I wanted to go in. He told me that through it all, there was definitely a sense of narration showing through and even though I have used the body and form in much of my work, it all told a story. He was referring to much of my recent work, which I feel the closest to. Getting into narrative photography last semester has helped me develop something more deep and personal in my images that I never thought would appear in my work. And it really was not until I met with Todd that I really thought this about my work. You never really think your work is good until told by someone higher up and hearing it from Todd really inspired me to continue with what I am doing. I was in a rut and still kind of am in a rut with what I am doing, but I feel like I have more sense of direction and knowing of where I am going. Todd introduced me to many photographers whom he thought reminded him of me, which I am very fortunate for. After leaving my meeting with Todd I felt very inspired not only by his words, but his work and the work of other photographers he showed me.