Moscow Riots
Whilst researching photographers that had focused on riots I came across Ilya Varlamov. He Photographed the Moscow riots. These were race riots that started after Yegor Sviridov was shot in a brawl with the gang from Causasus (a mainly Muslim region of Russia). Suiridov was part of the unofficial Spartak fan club known ad Fratria. FC Spartak are Moscow's leading football club and there had been many racist incidences within Russian football, for example the harassment of African players and many teams have been fined. Racism had become a growing problem in Russia and nationalists were increasingly angry at the government since the collapse of the soviet union.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk8iZGjlgKY
The riots started in Moscow after the shooting but in The Independent it was said the 'It wasn't just the one death. It was a pressure that had been building for years'. This made me question my previous speculations on the London riots as maybe there was more to it than I had originally thought. Therefore I decided to look at different opinions on the reasoning behind the riots. The independent said the police's handling of Mark Duggan's death 'looks to have been poor', and that there is 'context of mistrust of the police here'. This draws attention to the fact that many youths do not trust the police and that the Duggan case may have caused a feeling of injustice. I can see how the people that are hired to protect us appear to have actually targeted us is how many may have interpreted this situation.
On the other hand The Sun are quoted saying 'This is anarchy pure and simple and it presents serious treat to life and property'. This seems to push the opinion that perhaps the riots were more apolitical. After looking at both articles I do agree that there is a tension and lack of trust between youths and the police however I still refuse to see that as an excuse for destructive and threatening behaviour. Any point that the rioters were trying to put forward was completely overshadowed by the country's fear and disgust the was felt towards the rioters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk8iZGjlgKY
The riots started in Moscow after the shooting but in The Independent it was said the 'It wasn't just the one death. It was a pressure that had been building for years'. This made me question my previous speculations on the London riots as maybe there was more to it than I had originally thought. Therefore I decided to look at different opinions on the reasoning behind the riots. The independent said the police's handling of Mark Duggan's death 'looks to have been poor', and that there is 'context of mistrust of the police here'. This draws attention to the fact that many youths do not trust the police and that the Duggan case may have caused a feeling of injustice. I can see how the people that are hired to protect us appear to have actually targeted us is how many may have interpreted this situation.
On the other hand The Sun are quoted saying 'This is anarchy pure and simple and it presents serious treat to life and property'. This seems to push the opinion that perhaps the riots were more apolitical. After looking at both articles I do agree that there is a tension and lack of trust between youths and the police however I still refuse to see that as an excuse for destructive and threatening behaviour. Any point that the rioters were trying to put forward was completely overshadowed by the country's fear and disgust the was felt towards the rioters.
Ilya Varlamov
I Chose this image as I found it quite different to many others taken of the riots. Varlamov has captured the calm before the storm. The image shows passion but not destruction. The sea of arm all aiming in the same direction is a very powerful part of the image as it shows a united front. The hand the is pointing in the foreground of the photo appears to be that of the photographer. This gives the impression the Varlamov was supportive of the cause and clearly had a personal interest in the demonstration as he had decided it was an event that he felt he wanted to document. The demonstration was held where Sviridov had been shot and it was important to have the building in the shot to show this.
This image still has the same united front but a completely different atmosphere is created. The fire is a clear indication of this as fire generally represents danger and destruction. This was taken at the point when the demonstration had gone from organised to out of control. Here is a passage from Varlamov's account:
"I can not forget old Uzbek man in the subway. He was not beaten, he just sat in a corner shaking and crying, but looked as beat up as the others. "
This tell you that was no longer there as a supporter. The way he describes shows empathy and a sadness. You can see his change of status within the event by the camera position. In the first photography he is above the crowd as if he is standing up for for the cause but in the second image he is below the crowd looking up at the rioters as if he has been belittled by the situation and is not longer a part of it.
Dominic Wilcox
I was finding it difficult to find various art forms that focused on the London riots. This may be down to the fact that they were so recent but I found Dominic Wilcox's work and found it fascinating. He has created this series called 'Moments in Time' Where he basically has tiny figures made and attaches them to the hands on watches and small clocks. The collection is most effective when seen in movement as the figure on the minute hand appears to be barely moving compared to the second hand which moves continuously at a much faster speed.
Below is a link to an interview with Dominic Wilcox. It allows you to see the pieces in movement which is how they are intended to be seen:
Below is a link to an interview with Dominic Wilcox. It allows you to see the pieces in movement which is how they are intended to be seen:
http://www.dezeenscreen.com/2011/09/22/interview-dominic-wilcox-at-dezeen-space/
'A hooded youth sprints away with a 42 inch LCD TV while a riot policeman looks on.'
Within the series Wilcox created the piece above which is about the London riots. Wilcox lives in London and had to walk through Hackney to get home during the riots. This inspired his work as he saw a young boy running down a back street after stealing a TV. He decided to recreate this moment through his work. The hooded youth is attached to the second hand so that he appears to be running around the watch with the stolen TV. The police officer is on the minute hand so that he seems to not be moving. This is to symbolise the way that the police were unsure as to how to react . Also he has deliberately had a circle shield made for the police officer to contrast with the squareness of the TV.
I personally find This series very charming as it looks at human relationships and time in a literal and symbolic way.
Still Life
I found these image which are relevant to me theme however have not yet been able to find out who the artist is. They are classic still lives but all of the series include some form of weapon.This has been done as some form of mesage about the military but could be useful to my project. Weapons were used during the London riots by both the poice officers and rioters. I could make a clear statement by having weapons or object symobolic of them within my still life.
The destructive objects are placed in a subtle way which makes you look twice at the images. The way the the lighting and colour selection is vibrant you would not pressume that this image was linked to fighting and war. I would like to use this technique in my photographs as this artist has shown that there is not always a need to make an image dark when talking about a dark subject.
I personally find This series very charming as it looks at human relationships and time in a literal and symbolic way.
Still Life
I found these image which are relevant to me theme however have not yet been able to find out who the artist is. They are classic still lives but all of the series include some form of weapon.This has been done as some form of mesage about the military but could be useful to my project. Weapons were used during the London riots by both the poice officers and rioters. I could make a clear statement by having weapons or object symobolic of them within my still life.
The destructive objects are placed in a subtle way which makes you look twice at the images. The way the the lighting and colour selection is vibrant you would not pressume that this image was linked to fighting and war. I would like to use this technique in my photographs as this artist has shown that there is not always a need to make an image dark when talking about a dark subject.
