Detailed Research: Surrealism Photographer Research: Christopher McKenney -

Surrealism: Christopher McKenney -

Born: Unknown
Died: N/A
Place of Birth: Pennsylvania, America
Occupation: Photographer/ Artists
Camera: Nikon D90 (originally)
Style: Conceptual, surrealism, horror, minimalist, aesthetic

Notable Places of Work:

• Self employed

Other Information:

• Born in America.
• Lives in Pennsylvania.
• Started out in art after dropping out of Community College.
• Prefers to be known as an artists rather than a photographer.
• Uses Photoshop to edit his images into surreal art.
• Vivian Maier was a significant inspiration to McKenney.
• McKenney admires things "for the love of art" rather than wealth.
• McKenney's work is reminiscent of Rene Magritte in that he doesn't give subjects an identity; “I don’t like to give people an identity; I like to focus on the story, not the person.”.
• McKenney's interests include: music, antiques and history.
• McKenney does not always have a concept in mind at the time but allows his subconscious to create art.

Examples of Work:

This image is to me about the disasters of the world and how everything that we know as normality is going up in flames. The subject is ignoring the dangers next to them as the media has made the world a much smaller place that they are too engrossed in the controlling media to realise that their individual life is at risk. McKenney himself said “I like to look at it now and think the person sitting on the couch is reading all the horrible things going on in the world, trying to take their mind off the fact that something horrible is happening to them”.

If I was to interpret this image it would be a response to how humans are treating nature, animals and themselves. As a species we are damaging our world beyond repair at an astonishing speed and the scenery of the location shows the lush green forested areas which we are destroying. Additionally, the subject is a human-deer hybrid which could be commenting on genetically modified organisms and how we are yet to understand the possible effects of this on plants and animals who eat them. Furthermore, the girl is showing a sorrowful emotion which could be in reflection of how humans treat each other in a way like animals and how humanity is quickly being lost.  McKenney commented that “The photo depicts a girl crying over her flaws (the antlers),”... “I feel as if everyone can relate because no one is perfect and everyone has a flaw”.

This image is very poignant and can be understood in a few eerie perspectives. Although, I believe that this image is to represent the ghosts of all young women who have died before fulfilling the stereotypical wishes of femininity which involve marriage and motherhood. It could also be a symbol to challenge child marriages and the failed pregnancies that often come with them. Or, the image could be a piece of art that is within the horror genre and mimics the style of stories such as "The Woman in Black".

This image is part of the series "Self Made Ghosts" in which McKenney photographs himself and then edits out his body. This ghost is emerging from a suitcase which could link to the skeletons in the closet saying. The suitcase is also a symbol of moving on and the ghost could be someone moving on from a past that they have struggled in.

This photograph is also within the series "Self Made Ghosts". This image to me is a symbol of the hold that patriotic beliefs have over individuals and workers. The flag masks the identity of the subject and can therefore infer that in a world of capitalism and patriotic ideals the average man is no more than a worker, a cog in the machine of wealth. Furthermore, the clothing of the subject is like that of a formal worker who has followed the American Dream and has realised that it is unachievable and that many peoples lives have been wasted on it. The futility of belief is shown in the gun being held to the flag.