Selfies, Shelfies and Still Lifes

Written By Lee On August 10, 2014

Raphaelle Peale Still Life With Orange

Every now and then bloggers get slammed for the disproportionate amount of foodie pictures they carpet bomb across the webosphere. Photography is one of the main artistic forms that bloggers use to capture their creations. You’ll find overhead kaleidoscopic stacks of vegetables drizzled with glistening extra virgin olive oil, arranged and seated on a clean white plate. There’s a sprig of strategically positioned micro herbs, and perhaps a carefully placed napkin, I think you know the shots I’m talking about.

When you think about modern art and art throughout history you may think about the great masters at work. The Renaissance oil painter absorbed in their figurative composition or the impressionist creating his visible brush strokes with natural depiction of light. Art has been used throughout the years to commemorate our very existence, to honour our achievements, disappointments and celebrations, to freeze frame personal memories and to document what we love and what we eat.

What was relevant back in the day and revered is still relevant now in the era of contemporary art although we just use another form to capture it. Looking at it objectively, our aesthetic hasn’t changed but the tools and technology we use to objectify the moment has. A still life, is still a still life, a selfie once known as the self-portrait is no different and our holiday snaps are our depictions of a landscape painting. The only difference today is that we capture them on our smart phones or with the help of a digital camera.

In honour of modern art and our creativity I want to share some of the beautiful artful compositions from our wonderful community that are worthy of being hung in the national gallery.

Here’s to modern art and shaping history our way and long may it continue!

@kiaraible Sweet Pistachio Chicken