Through the use of technology, Tom Chambers has produced and visually enhanced his body of work “Rite of Passage” to depict a surrealistic viewpoint of childhood and the link between mankind and nature. He explores these ideas focusing on the rate at which we are losing touch with our natural and spiritual awareness. Chambers immerses his artwork in the question of “Why do people costumed in formal dress seem so omnipotent on the street, yet so vulnerable in the wild?” (Tom Chambers, 2010) He uses photo imaging software, subtle lighting and tedious camera angles to create images reminiscent of various emotional childhood memories. Through the analysis of three images from this particular body of work, he has flaunted the use of technology as a means of subtly enhancing the visual language to alter the viewer’s perception.
The image Night Light by Tom Chambers is reminiscent of a childhood memory. This quality has been presented through the use of a surrealistic aspect of imagery, and visual language. The focal point of this image is the body of a girl wearing a delicate formal dress. She is brightly lit by fairy lights that have been draped around her, almost as if she were a Christmas tree. This has become the focal point due to the underlying light being revealed from beneath the gown. Due to the particular camera angle, only the bottom half of her face is visible taking away a complete representation of expression. The landscape in which the girl is immersed is a grassy, inland area that through the lighting in the sky creates a lonely, isolated atmosphere. Placing this young girl in the spotlight of this isolated habitat has created a strong sense of vulnerability. The elegance of her dress and the grassy outback environment she is placed in is an example of subtle juxtaposition between cool and warm colours, harmonized through a strong contrasting light scheme. Through the use of technology, in particular, lighting, this image creates a dark eerie mood in the viewer, hindering on feelings of vulnerability and the desperation or need to hide. This young girl, obviously, is in an unwanted spotlight. It seems as if she is worried about something that is all in her mind, maybe she feels as if the worlds eyes are stuck on her, but by being placed in this isolated environment, it is representing that in reality, no one is watching. The aspect of this image, expressing the transformation from being a teenager to becoming a woman, is strengthened through the positioning of the girl in this particular scene. In the background the sky is dark and the colours are producing a strong contrast, creating an unknown presence. It seems as if there is a spirit there, that herself and the dog are unaware of, but are definitely feeling the weight of it. The sky is dark and this hints on a storm brewing. This could be the start of something tragic, or maybe just a step toward something new. The girl appears as though she is being hesitantly pushed into adulthood, something she isn’t ready for. The purity in this image is strengthened through the natural ecosystem that is “warning” her. Almost a warning from Mother Nature herself, it’s time for her to mature physically, but mentally she isn’t ready. This spiritual awareness being presented could possibly be Mother Nature. This image, through the use of technology has positioned the viewer to engage in this surrealistic view on transforming and growing as an individual.
This image Foggy River by Tom Chambers is another that flaunts the diversity of technology present throughout the art making process. Chambers’ vivid, surrealistic expression intertwined through his images helps to convey a message harder to see through the light of reality. This image is quite simply of a girl delicately floating in a river alone. She appears not dead, but immersed in a hyper-reality or at peace with the spiritual side of herself… ready to wake to yet a refreshed life: perhaps adulthood. Through the use of photo imaging software, he has the ability to create a scene that “mythically illustrates” the “delicate transition experienced by a child passing into adolescence and then adulthood” (Improbable Dreams, 15/10/10). His delicately assembled photomontages express some aspects of their strong, surrealistic quality through the use of contrast through warm and cool colours, though he subtly harmonises this through the gentle de-saturation of the original photographs. Due to the technology used in this image, the visual language is enhanced to give the viewer a sense that this image is reminiscent of a particular emotion that they may have experienced, or a certain event through their childhood when they needed to rewind and start again. The lighting in this photomontage creates a focal point, as the young girls tranquil skin and fragile gown are obviously much brighter than the water and trees she lays amongst. The pure colours radiating from her create an aura of complete serenity. The eerie atmosphere of the lake/river gives the impression that something extravagant is developing, unaware and vulnerable the girl lays completely exposed to the world she can’t control. Without the use of technology through the art making process in this image, the harmonious contrast and surreal atmosphere would have been ill achieved.
The Image Springtime Landfall by Tom Chambers creates a nostalgic ambience through the divine surroundings of the natural and spiritual world. He has created a surreal, dream like atmosphere in which he has amplified the link between the ocean and the land, also representing the inability to escape. This image flaunts countless symbolic references that all together are brilliant in conveying a message; the sum is greater than it’s parts. Chamber’s has focused on this aspect of the photomontage by carefully using Adobe’s Photoshop software to harmonise this image as a complete photograph and artwork. The focal point of the image is of a young adolescent girl, blindfolded, trying to row a boat over a dusty, grassland. She appears quite calm but only aware of her surroundings through her sense of sound. She appears effortless in her actions to escape, presenting the idea that she is in a peaceful state of oblivion, perhaps, enjoying the sounds of the seagulls flying above. This lack of sight could be symbolic in creating a heightened awareness of the natural world that she has complete dependency on. Again, as seen in the other photographs, Chamber’s has created a unified piece through the de-saturation of colour, harmonising both contrasting warm and cool. The placement of the flowerbed in the rowboat she is perched in could be symbolic of her natural growth as a woman. Mother Nature had planted her and is now at the adolescent stage, allowing her to blossom as a mature woman. The lighting and cloudy shadows throughout the sky in the background indicates that something hugely significant is about to approach. The blindfold is symbolic of her vulnerability as a child, not seeing her near future of adulthood from a mile away. She is completely unprepared, but nature doesn’t wait. It seems as if this new ulterior life is approaching sooner than anticipated. The boat mounted on land represents her inability to escape the forced maturity and this is enhanced through the use of photo imaging. It is almost unrecognisable that she doesn’t really belong, creating the eerie, unsure atmosphere of the overall artwork.
Through the use of modern technology, Tom Chambers was able to re-create scenes reminiscent of childhood, a surrealistic, dream like quality. In using particular photo imaging software Chamber’s allowed himself to personally create, and place together multiple images to enhance the content of symbolism. He has achieved this with his delicate editing, whilst harmonising the entire artworks individually through the use of colour as well. Tom Chambers’ artworks flaunt mythical illustrations and trigger the viewer’s vivid imagination or memory and emotion. Through the use of technology Chamber’s was able to focus on the delicate state between adolescence and adulthood and transform an individual artwork to present this concept to a viewer through visual language.
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