Meet photographic artist Michael Cook - unDiscovered exhibition

Summary

Michael Cook, a photographer with 25 years of experience, shares his journey of self-discovery and exploration of indigenous identity at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Inspired by his mother's fight for indigenous rights, Cook's work educates from an indigenous perspective, contrasting with the Eurocentric history he learned. His artistic process involves starting with a blank canvas and building layers, akin to painting with a camera, to create a final image. Each project is a discovery, with ideas stemming from various sources, and Cook emphasizes the importance of adaptability in the creative process.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Michael Cook is an artist with a series called 'Undiscovered' exhibited at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He was adopted and grew up in a large family with a strong advocate for indigenous rights as his mother.
• 🧐 His work is inspired by his desire to explore his own indigenous identity and history.
• 📚 He feels that his education on indigenous history was lacking during his school years in the 70s and 80s.
• 📸 Cook has 25 years of experience in photography, starting from dark rooms to wedding, commercial, and fashion photography.
• 💡 His creative process involves starting with a blank canvas and building an image layer by layer, akin to painting with a camera.
• 🤔 His ideas for projects can come from various sources, including documentaries or even just a title.
• 🔄 The title 'Undiscovered' was chosen to contrast the notion of Australia's discovery, acknowledging the pre-existing population.
• 👥 He considers the models and how to piece together the final look, without a predetermined number of images.
• 🔁 As a photographic artist, Cook is open to changing directions during a project to achieve a stronger end result.

Q & A

Who is Michael Cook and what is his connection to the National Maritime Museum in Sydney?

Michael Cook is a photographer with 25 years of experience in the industry, and he has an exhibit called 'Undiscovered' on display at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney. It is an honor for him to have his work showcased there.

What is Michael Cook's inspiration for his artwork?

Michael Cook's inspiration comes from his desire to explore his own indigenous identity and history, which he did not learn much about in school.

How does Michael Cook's upbringing influence his work?

Cook was brought up in a large family and is the only adopted child. His mother was an advocate for indigenous rights, which influenced his interest in indigenous history and his artistic exploration of his own heritage.

What is the significance of the title 'Undiscovered' for Michael Cook's series?

The title 'Undiscovered' signifies the idea that contrary to the notion of Australia being 'discovered' by Captain Cook, there were already people living in Australia. It challenges the Eurocentric perspective of history.

How does Michael Cook's background in photography contribute to his art?

Cook's experience in various photography fields such as wedding, portrait, commercial, and fashion photography has taught him skills like organization, styling, and creating layered images, which he applies to his artistic work.

What is Michael Cook's process for creating his art?

Cook starts with a blank canvas and an idea in his head, similar to painting with a camera. He builds layers and creates images, often changing direction as the project evolves.

How does Michael Cook's approach to photography differ from photojournalism?

Unlike photojournalism, which captures events as they happen, Cook starts with an idea and constructs his images, creating a narrative from scratch.

What role do titles play in Michael Cook's creative process?

Titles can be a starting point for Cook's creative process. For the 'Undiscovered' series, the title came first, inspiring the concept and direction of the artwork.

How does Michael Cook handle the dynamic nature of creating art projects?

As a photographic artist, Cook is prepared to change directions during the creation process, adapting to the many changes that occur, which ultimately leads to a stronger final project.

What are some of the skills Michael Cook learned from his years in the photography industry?

Cook learned organization from wedding photography, and from the fashion industry, he learned how to coordinate with stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists to achieve a specific look.

How does Michael Cook's work reflect his personal journey of self-discovery?

Each project for Cook is an educational process where he learns more about Australian history from an indigenous perspective and discovers more about himself, reflecting his journey of self-discovery.