5 Questions 3 Answers

Hiroshi Sugimoto is a photographer that uses this eye as sculpture, painter, architect, and philosopher. By using black and white he allows for the process of developing a photo to allow for the connection of preserving a memory to be shown. He believes that photography can be a time machine that allows us to preserve memories and moments in time.

1) Artist Hiroshi Sugimoto uses photography as a time machine. He thinks that photography is a way to freeze or preserve a moment or memory in time. What are ways that you think we or you preserve time?

A. A painting.

B. Taking about something that happened in the past.

C. Writing about it, like a book or play.

2) So, knowing how we can preserve moments or memories differently, what are we essentially done to these moments?

A. We remember them.

B. We relive them.

C. Feelings during that memory can resurface.

3) Thinking and using Hiroshi Sugimoto as inspiration, looking at some of his art, what are moments you think he was trying to capture and or are there any emotions associated with them that you feel?

A. (Looking at Artwork survey: 1990s image 2) I think what he is capturing is just the ocean floor. It seems empty with no fish. I think there are snails in it so it’s not really empty, but it feels that way with nothing in the distance.

B. Personally, I don’t feel any emotions with these images. Most of them are blurred and they are kind of old.

C. (Looking at Artwork survey: 2000s image 1) This image reminds me of the twin towers. The image is blurred, and it makes me think that might be how people felt that day or still feel about it today.

4) (As a teacher I would follow up on student 2 answers per the last question) That maybe true, so they why do Hiroshi Sugomoto take these photos and sometimes blurred them and was does it relate to?

A. Maybe he blur’s them to make us feel emotions like sad or confused.

B. My memory of things isn’t the clearest and it blurry like the images, so I guess that’s what he’s trying to show us or tell us.

C. Memories that aren’t clear still have meaning and feelings to them. Even if you can’t remember it perfectly doesn’t mean it didn’t happen or it shouldn’t be remembered.

5) So, after asking ourselves why he does this and what meaning or emotions it might have let’s look at his process (shows images of his workspace). Looking at his process how can you relate this back to yourself and moments/memories you’ve had in your life?

A. I remember vaguely that I got an award for school when I was in second grade, but I remember more when my mom tells me about it.

B. One time I was doing this really cool flip into the pool but when I talk about it my sister, she only remembers me getting my brother wet from the big slash it made. She has a different memory.

C. Over time I use to remember things I did with my grandma but now they are blurry just like his photos. I still have the memories and good feelings with it but it’s just not as clear. The memories are still important to me even if they are hard to make out.