MA Scholarship Project: Rob Johnston
Master of Arts Photography
Domain: Truth and Technology
Project #5: Coalescence
Rob Johnston’s experimental project for the Master of Art Photography program explored identity and vision. It was driven by complex research: How can abstract photographic self-portraits be used to provide an alternative representation of a lived experience to an audience? How can this methodology inform the viewer about impaired vision and perception? The project culminated in an exhibition of large-scale abstract self-portraits. From his exegesis tracking his progress across three semesters:
"Coalescence was created to explore the intimate relationship between the camera and the photographer, specifically, from within a relationship where the photographer is visually impaired. The dichotomy of the perfectly engineered camera with its lens and the imperfect human eye and how they interact. Particularly, the frailty and vulnerability that is borne from that.
I have approached the making of this work through the philosophy of post-photography by which I am using the medium of photography beyond its traditional definitions or methodologies in a digital age – developing new techniques or forms of experimentation that raise the question of what a photograph is and can be?"
Coalescence received a Highly Commended award as part of GradFoto 2022 presented by The Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
Biography
Rob Johnston is a photographer and visual artist based in Sydney, Australia. He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Communication) in 2019 and a Master of Arts Photography in 2022. He has worked in photographic gallery spaces and has supported the photographic community in Australia though volunteering and other activities. Rob is working on new projects about vision, photography and technology that extend from his MA research.