Meet photographic artist Michael Cook - unDiscovered exhibition

Australian National Maritime Museum

10 Aug 201503:00

Summary

TLDRMichael 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.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Exploring Indigenous Identity Through Art

Michael Cook, a photographer with 25 years of experience, discusses his journey from dark rooms to fashion photography and how each phase has influenced his current work. His series 'Undiscovered' at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney is a personal exploration of his indigenous identity, inspired by his mother's fight for indigenous rights. Cook's process involves starting with a blank canvas and building an image layer by layer, akin to painting with a camera. His work is not only a creative expression but also an educational journey into Australian history from an indigenous perspective, challenging the narrative of 'discovery' by highlighting the presence of indigenous people before European settlement.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Indigenous Identity

Indigenous Identity refers to the cultural and ethnic heritage of a person who belongs to an indigenous group, which is often associated with a particular territory and its history. In the video, Michael Cook explores his own indigenous identity as a means to understand his personal history and the broader context of indigenous history in Australia. His work is inspired by his desire to delve deeper into this aspect of his heritage, which was not well-represented in his education.

💡National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum in Sydney is a cultural institution that showcases maritime history and artifacts. In the context of the video, it serves as the venue where Michael Cook's series 'Undiscovered' is displayed, highlighting the significance of his work within the broader narrative of Australian history and culture.

💡Captain Cook's Landing

Captain Cook's Landing refers to the historical event when British explorer James Cook first landed in Australia in 1770. This event is often cited as the beginning of European settlement in Australia. In the video, Cook mentions this event to contrast the Eurocentric view of Australian history with the indigenous perspective that predates this arrival.

💡Photography Industry

The Photography Industry encompasses the various sectors and professionals involved in the creation, production, and distribution of photographic images. Michael Cook has 25 years of experience in this industry, which has shaped his artistic approach and technical skills. His journey from dark rooms to fashion photography has influenced his current work, where he uses photography as a medium to explore and express his indigenous identity.

💡Blank Canvas

A 'blank canvas' in art refers to a starting point with no pre-existing content, from which an artist can freely create. In the video, Michael Cook uses this term to describe his approach to creating art, beginning with an idea and gradually building layers to form a final image, much like painting but with a camera.

💡Layers

In the context of the video, 'layers' refers to the multiple elements and stages that Michael Cook incorporates into his artistic process. He likens his approach to building an image through the accumulation of different visual and conceptual components, which are then combined to create a complex and meaningful final piece of art.

💡Fashion Photography

Fashion Photography is a genre of photography that focuses on displaying clothing and other fashion items in an appealing and stylish manner. Cook's experience in fashion photography has taught him about creating a specific look and working with a team of stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists, skills that he now applies to his artistic projects.

💡Undiscovered

In the video, 'Undiscovered' is the title of Michael Cook's series displayed at the National Maritime Museum. The title is a deliberate choice that challenges the notion of Australia's 'discovery' by Europeans, emphasizing that there were already people living in Australia with their own rich cultures and histories.

💡Education Process

An 'education process' in the video refers to the journey of learning and discovery that Michael Cook undergoes with each of his projects. It highlights his commitment to understanding Australian history from an indigenous perspective, which he feels was lacking in his formal education.

💡Adopted Children

Being one of the adopted children in his family, Michael Cook's unique position within a large family with a strong advocate for indigenous rights provides a personal connection to his exploration of indigenous identity. This personal history is a driving force behind his artistic and educational pursuits.

💡Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage encompasses the traditions, values, and history that are passed down through generations within a community or group. In the video, Cook's exploration of his indigenous identity is a quest to connect with and honor the cultural heritage of his ancestors, which is a central theme in his artwork.

Highlights

Michael Cook's artwork series 'Undiscovered' is displayed at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

Cook's inspiration stems from his desire to explore his indigenous identity.

He was raised in a large family and is one of the adopted children.

Cook's mother was an advocate for indigenous rights throughout his upbringing.

His art serves as an educational journey to understand Australian history from an indigenous perspective.

Cook's work contrasts with traditional photojournalism by starting with a blank canvas and building an idea.

He has 25 years of experience in photography, starting in dark rooms and moving through various fields.

Cook's experience in wedding photography taught him organization and time management.

The fashion industry influenced his ability to create a cohesive look with stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists.

His creative process involves starting with an idea and building layers to create a final image.

The title 'Undiscovered' was chosen to challenge the notion of Australia's discovery, acknowledging the pre-existing population.

Cook's ideas for his art can originate from various sources, including documentaries or even titles.

He emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and changing direction during the creative process.

Cook's approach to art involves constant evolution and adaptation to strengthen the final project.

His work reflects a deep personal connection to his indigenous heritage and a commitment to exploring that history.

Cook's mother's fight for indigenous rights has significantly influenced his artistic direction.

The title 'Undiscovered' encapsulates the theme of challenging the Eurocentric narrative of Australian history.