Brian K. Johnson

Champaign, Illinois

Image in show: "Subliminal Lines"

Combining the real with the unreal, expressing the truth within the untruth are goals of my digital photography. So often people say what they want others to hear and believe while hiding the truth about who they are and what they feel. Th ere is a protective forceÐfield around us to guard our personal space. Some of us let people get close and intimate with our inner self, while others create an illusion of intimacy while holding back the actual inner person. These people need to control a ccess to themselves to a high degree, while drawing friends in like a Venus Flytrap would. Their forceÐfield is large, solid, and translucent.
My work seeks to explain this reality of people, to inform and open doors. All of us experience hurt throughout our lives: physical, mental, emotional. We also experience joy. In general, untruth leads to pain and truth leads to joy. We must look past t he brief gratification of gaining through deceit and lies just to avoid the initial pain of the truth. To reach ultimate peace in this world we need to be true and honest with ourselves. Other peopleÕs opinions of us only matter as far as we let them. Wha t is more important is that we know we are living as near as we can to the truth of who we are.
In digital imaging I strive to show the truth, through the untruth of electronic manipulation of photography. I try to incorporate an electronic photography multiÐmedia approach to my images by combining elements from many sources. This work might inclu de text, photographs, personal artifacts and electronic manipulations, all with the goal of greater expression of what seems to me to be the truth about people and events in my life. I try to take an approach that is accessible, with a touch of irony and humor to soften the edges of meaning.

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