Richard Orjis & Rebecca Hobbs

This week, we had lectures from Richard Orjis and Rebecca Hobbs. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it in time for Orjis’ presentation but from what I managed to catch really interested me. The Youtube clip of Orjis on The Gravy gave me a clear insight on his passions and how he channels them through his practise. Orjis said that he was really interested in Pagan rituals, and it clearly showed with his use of performance and coal during his exhibition.

Orjis is also interested in Robert Rauschenburg, Terence Koh, Andy Warhol and Frances Upritchard. I had a look at Terence Koh’s work and noticed that Orjis and Koh’s works looked quite similar, but different. In Koh’s work, Warhol remains as a Chinese Winter Garden in my heart (Self Portrait) 2006, Koh has covered himself with what looks like white paint or flour with a white background, whereas in Orjis’ work, Arron (2008). Orjis has used coal and a black background.

In Orjis’ photographs of people with coal rubbed all over them, the use of the black coal on the person makes it look as if he is trying to camouflage himself into the black background. I guess for Orjis, through photography, he is able to channel his passion of Pagan rituals.

Rebecca spoke about her interest and passion towards dancehall and how the dancehall movement came about. I really liked Rebecca’s video of a girl walking over a bridge in South Auckland where she would bust a dancehall move. I found it quite normal for some reason. I guess the fact that the people in the background didn’t seem to notice the girl dancing, played a big part to the actual video. What really interested me though, was that Rebecca was so passionate about dancehall, that she actually practises it also. Just goes to show how passionate Rebecca really is about dancehall.

I admire Rebecca, because to be honest, I don’t really know what I’m passionate about. I seem to like everything to a point. For example, I used to be passionate about the guitar, where I would play almost everyday until I learnt how to play the bass. I really like dance, music, building, sports etc, but passionate? I don’t know. I guess I’m still yet to find that something I’m truly passionate about. Maybe this is why my works always change.