about

My primary artistic modality has always been movement, but like many movement artists, I also maintain a visual arts practice. The permanence of visual images complements the ephemerality of movement. My principal visual medium is photography.

Photography is entirely dependent upon, and inextricably linked to, technological innovation. As technology evolves, so does photography, and its role in society. Recent technological advancements have resulted in digital photography becoming perhaps the most ubiquitous and accessible visual art ever to exist. Sharing images, both still and moving, of ourselves and our lives is now central to how many people develop their social identities.

Photographs are never merely neutral or unbiased depictions of reality. They tell stories. The choices a photographer makes, both during the shoot and in post-production, emphasize certain visual elements in order to express a particular way of seeing the subject and its relationship to its surroundings.

I tell visual stories of the world as I encounter it. My work focuses on three primary, often overlapping subjects: people, places, and events.

Images of other people, especially faces, are psychologically primed to draw our attention. I’ve long been interested in elements of human form and experience that are excluded by the content filters imposed by the large corporations that now control much of the internet.

This collection includes conventional portraiture, tasteful art nudes, and compositions incorporating the Japanese art of tying people with rope, sometimes called shibari (literally “tying” in Japanese) or kinbaku. The latter brings together two distinct and individually meaningful artistic practices, although a still image can only capture a tiny fraction of the full potential of rope as an art form.

Humanity’s impact on the visual landscape has also long been an avenue of personal reflection. While we are ourselves part of nature, we also impact our environment like no other species has. I enjoy shooting both the natural habitats that remain relatively undisturbed by our collective intervention as well as the changes we have made to our home over time.

Finally, as cultural institutions have shifted, gatherings where people experience community and embodied connection have taken on an increasingly important role. Events can be some of the most challenging environments for photography. Lighting may be variable, less than ideal, or almost nonexistent. There may be only a brief window in which to capture an image. But it can be rewarding to create lasting, shareable memories of an otherwise intangible experience.

I primarily shoot at events I attend as a participant, rather than as a spectator. My attendance, participation, or photography at an event does not constitute an endorsement of the event, its organizers, or the hosting venue. Much of what makes these gatherings meaningful comes from the people who participate and the connections they create together. I explore topics related to leadership, community, and accountability in more depth on my writing and teaching website, jonkedi.com.

I welcome inquiries regarding artistic collaboration via email at jon at jonkedi dot art.