Tim Johnston
Artist Statement
“Oneiric Overtones”
Harnessing the energy in photography’s chemistry is what distinguishes my work today. I entered my craft embracing chance and found moments. What stands out is the original use of repurposed darkroom chemistry and paper to create objective photographic drawings under studio conditions.
At the same time, my photography moved towards printing on acetates, with a desire to lift photography off the wall and engage the viewer in site specific installations. What began as photochemical sketches in a figure drawing workshop has transformed into records of calculated chance, almost recognizable figures in a fleeting moment, that take some days of chemical reactions at work to reveal themselves.
I use the economy of vision to describe my production. Visually, I am releasing hidden chemical energy into life.
Biography
Tim Johnston graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University in 1987 and received a scholarship to develop a photographic project in Mexico City. There he taught photography at international high schools while producing several bodies of work including pinhole photography, “La roma amor aL”, and two installations “Double Vision” and “The New Medicine”. On his return to Canada in 2003, he continues teach at the middle school level and develop photographic ideas in juried shows and Contact Photography. He lives with his family in Mississauga.