Randy H. Bradley is a photobased artist born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1948. He studied at the Banff Centre, School of Fine Arts, at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and at the University of Calgary.
Scope and content
The work, entitled "Seven Manifestations of Hope and Loss," by Randy H. Bradley, 1997, consists of seven clear glass test tubes, 20 cm long x 2.3 cm diameter, sealed with red wax, containing the ashes of photoprints, affixed with brass wire to a grey soft foam block, 37 x 26 x 4.5 cm, all installed in a document box.
Note
The artist stated: "The boxed content submitted for Artropolis 1997 represents my continuing concerns regarding the function of the photograph image within a context of real and constructed objects. The work that I do is narrative in nature, a process of gradual story building as each image and object layer are added. The content of this work is based upon a basic investigation regarding the location of the self within the context of world culture. In carrying out my practice I try to resist the specific identification with and categorization of "the photographic." Instead I feel that my practice is better described as a form of of integrated imaging possessing a strong photographic bias. Since the location of the self within the world informs my work, the continued presence of the landscape representation occurs on a regular and significant basis. By using the photograph frequently as the "ground" image, I am able through conjunction, contrivance and presentation, alter the status of each particular element. This collection of events gives each component an opportunity to change state so to speak, and in so doing invent new linkages and perhaps new meaning."
