Walking Artists

Steven Pippin

After typing walking into the search bar of the Tate website, it became apparent that many artists have dabbled with it. Richard Long defiantly dominates the field with flair, but other artists use it more subtly, like Steven Pippin in Laundromat-Locomotion(Walking in Suit) 1997. When noting the similarities between washing machines and cameras (have to admit, never thought of that myself) he decided to turn some washing machines into cameras, and photographed himself walking past. The machines were in a Laundromat, hence the name (which also references Muybridge, the father of movement photographs). What I like is the simplicity of the images, but their submarine like quality. I find them all very, well, pretty. Now what would be really cool is if the Washing machines had caught unsuspecting punters pass.


Keith Arnatt

Another artist who has played with walking is Keith Arnatt. His Walking the Dog (1976-9) series is fun to look at, even if it is just to marvel at how dogs and owners always seem to bare a degree of resemblance to one another.
This is a very big series, so I didn't look through the entire bunch, but what surprises me is how much like a documentary these images are. You can clearly see fashions in clothing, houses, hair, collars, even dogs.
When looking at a bunch of them together, I am struck on how similar they all see. The colours and even the people to a degree. They all seem to stand in a very particular way. It shows a degree of diversity of dog walkers, but what I think would be really interesting would be if Arnatt had travelled and photographed dog walkers all over the globe. Them we could really laugh at how similar/ diverse they all are.

Ian Breakwell

Finally, the artist I found the most interesting when looking at walking was Ian Breakwell. The Walking Man Diary (1975-9) is another instance in art and documentary coming very close. Breakwell photographed the same man walking past his window for three years. The obsessive nature of Breakwell's work appeals to me. I find the study of one mysterious figure fascinating. It is fun thinking about how, although a mystery to us, this man was someone's friend or cousin or regular customer. I wonder if anyone sees my granddad going to the pub and wonders what his story is. I'm sure its fascinating, but not as interesting as the tales going on in my head.

I seem to have chosen all photographic artists this time. Not intentional. Just what I find interesting at this moment in time.