People Generally Like Looking At People

Hannah Doerksen

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(b. 1988)

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PEOPLE GENERALLY LIKE LOOKING AT PEOPLE; 2011

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oil on panel

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40 x 35.5 in. (101.6 x 90.2 cm)

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ARTIST STATEMENT

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People generally like looking at people. This is something I have observed. Facebook, entertainment television, nosey neighbours and fashion magazines confirm it. For myself, much inspiration comes from observing strangers while they are unsuspicious of the fact that they are being watched -- let alone photographed. In their unselfconscious state I am a voyeur observing their behaviours and quirks exhibited while engaging in everyday activities.

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People Generally Like Looking at People is a painting whose source material is a very close crop of a much larger photograph. As the eye behind the camera I was unaware that I was photographing this woman and only became conscious of her inclusion after some serious zooming in. This image of a figure unlocking a car has been so pixilated and broken down the photograph becomes almost painterly. Once actually painted it becomes darn near abstract, but once the figure is pointed out it's hard to forget, whether you can tell precisely what is going on or not.

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Feelings of being watched or under surveillance are today abundant almost universally.

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Feeling at once aroused, revolted, full of distrust, mystery, curiosity.

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Back and forth,

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Creepy and satisfying,

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Abstract and figurative,

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A little beautiful and a little strange.