drei is an ongoing series of photographic artwork that addresses three specific aspects of Christopher Young's personal life and practice - people, place and objects. It develops concepts of context, implied narrative and space to communicate, amongst other things, darkness and danger. Images are, for Chris, inherently loaded with stories. When he sees a broken door or a crumpled piece of paper he interprets these further than simple objective observation. 'Why' and 'how' are impossible to ignore. Using very limited information and his emotional response he 'fills' in the gaps and create myths. He is interested in what or who is not there, what he can't quite see and the helplessness of not being able to 'ground' an image in a time line.
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biography

I was born in small town New Zealand in the mid-seventies.

My first experience with Photography was with a very nasty Diana-clone in 1982. It felt so incredibly empowering to have my very own camera and to be able to express, however crudely, how I saw the world.

I enrolled to study Applied Arts from 92-94 and realised through that process that I really wasn't that interested in being an ad man. I was much more into making images that moved others and myself rather than sold soda.

I majored in Photography with a Fine Art bias and exhibit on a regular basis in Perth, Western Australia where I now live with my artist wife. Please see the press archive for some insight into our working practice.

My images have always been very personal and have a therapeutic nature to them. They are typically how I work through problems or issues in my life.

 

history of the series

2008

April 18-May 4: Selection of prints exhibited at Breadbox Gallery in Perth as part of FotoFreo 2008 Perth

January: drei #07 exhibited in the 2007 IPA/Lucies Tour at Farmani Gallery in Los Angeles

2007

November: drei #93 exhibited in the BankWest Contemporary Art Prize at PICA in Perth

October: drei #98 exhibited in the Joondalup Invitational Art Award in Perth

October: drei #07 exhibited in the 2007 IPA/Lucies Tour at Splashlight Studios in New York

drei #07 exhibited in the Josephine Ulrich & Win Schubert Photography Award in Surfers Paradise

Three prints receive a honourable mention in the Hey Hot Shot Winter Edition

2006

drei #06 exhibited in the Fremantle Print Award in Fremantle

drei #01, drei #02 & drei #03 exhibited in the Joondalup Invitational Art Award in Perth

drei #04 & drei #05 exhibited in the BankWest Contemporary Art Prize at PICA in Perth

Two prints purchased by the City of Wanneroo

Three prints receive a honourable mention in the Hey Hot Shot Autumn Edition

Three prints purchased by the Office of Shared Services

Christopher Young Artist Portrait

Above: Artist portrait in front of drei #93 (1200mm x 1500mm Lightjet Print, Edition of 5, 2007). As exhibited in the 2007 Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize.

 

"I continue to be impressed by Chris's eye, his capacity to develop and produce images of startling stillness and exceptional beauty. The works leave the viewer in a slightly altered head space, and invest the objects captured with a sense of the extraordinary captured in an ordinary moment or setting."

- Jude van der Merwe, Artsource.