Ariel Kirk-Gushowaty

I approach my work as a series of ontological experiments. My projects can be diverse in form, but explore different aspects of the way we perceive ourselves and the world. Often my themes are focused on the balance between absence and presence, body and mind, or other kinds of oppositional categories as I perceive them to exist within real situations. The territory between these categories is frequently filled with suppressed anxiety and emotion, which provides fertile subject material.

When working with people, I try to raise a specific kind of presence within my subjects by explaining the conceptual elements I’m exploring. This brings them into the process, and allows them to ask themselves the same questions that I’m raising within the image. My intention is to create a photographic scene that has a conceptual aspect, yet also remains grounded in a real person’s particular existence. It also allows me to explore the possibilities and limits of awareness within a photographic image – an aspect of photography that I find immensely compelling.

I live and work in the city of Vancouver, on Canada’s west coast. I have a BA in Philosophy and Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto, and a certificate in Photography from Langara College.
My photography work has been shown in Japan, Toronto and Vancouver, and I am a member of several artist and film collectives.

Please feel free to contact me at arielkg@gmail.com