Is it delusion

Or do you see it as well

Last week, I shared some thoughts on ego and how I realised much of my previous work may have come more from ego than true creativity. Reflecting on that, I started wondering: do you, the viewer, see what I see in my frames, or do you interpret them differently? I’m experimenting with my work and would love to know if any of the following resonates with you. I’ll share some frames and my initial impressions from when I captured them.

Starting with an older piece from my first exhibit:

• Powerful Steps – You don’t know the power of your steps until you take them. I saw this in the cracked pavers, broken right up to the person, whose position seemed to align perfectly with the lines, as if they were exactly where they needed to be.

  

• Kids These Days – A playful juxtaposition between an old man walking and a kid unintentionally sticking his tongue out at him—a modern take on a classic childhood move.

• Bright Mind – I stood in this spot for three hours, waiting for the face to align perfectly, which felt like the perfect representation of my mind when I’m overthinking, running at 100 miles an hour, with no sign of slowing down.

• Balance – The smallest things keep us balanced. This was captured in Dublin, where I waited for the framing to align: two figures moving left, two right, with a small figure symbolising balance in the frame.

• How Well Do You Know Your Shadow? – A perfectly timed shot with two figures walking in sync, creating an illusion of one person and two shadows.

• Release – A simple frame taken at the La Kratong festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Its simplicity mirrors its title.

I’m genuinely curious to know what you see in these images, if anything at all. I believe they’re strong pieces, but it’s intriguing to consider how others interpret my work. I realise not everyone will connect with it, and I know trying to please everyone only leads to poor art. Still, I wonder if what I feel when creating these images aligns with how you, the viewer, experience them.

As artists, we’re often our own harshest critics. We know what looks good, what might belong on a wall or in a book, yet when others don’t see it the same way, it can cast doubt. I don’t doubt the quality of these images, but I do question if their intended meaning is reaching you as I’m seeing it.

I’ve found that when I’m excited about an image, I can usually name it almost immediately, and that name often reflects my intuition. But perhaps I should let go of naming and focus on creating, printing, and getting them on walls—where art belongs.

Thank you for reading, and if you feel inspired to reply or comment, I’d be very grateful. Hope you have a wonderful week!

All the best,
Adam