Gina Gaiser

ARTIST STATEMENT

I am an Oakland-based artist primarily making digital photographs. My work examines how cycles of daily life affect us over time. Familiar, mundane, repetitive actions are ever-present in our lives and shape who we are. I am curious how many of these actions we are conscious of. What is significant or recognized? What is ignored or forgotten?

In grade school, I took a summer photography course and made a pinhole camera. Soon after I started collecting old format cameras in various states of repair. Not afraid to take things apart, I deconstructed the cameras, made adjustments, and loaded them with film to see what images I could make. Most often, I create through experimentation, using technology as a collaborator, and playing with techniques and processes until I get the desired result. 

Time and place are an important part of the work. The photographs document a specific moment that might be familiar but is unique and something we may not otherwise notice or remember. I use a digital camera, camcorder, or phone and photo editing software to simplify the images and focus on formal compositions, creating a series of my daily activities that are like pages of a book, cells in a comic strip, or stills from a film.

In this age of Anthropocene, the human age, we recognize humanity's impact on the planet. In this context, I explore images of everyday life - how we navigate through our environment, build structures, and connect with others.