What are you trying to say?

A question to ask yourself before you begin

This was a question I was asked about my recent works and my overall approach to art. At first, I struggled to articulate an answer, even though I think carefully about what I want to express before every frame I shoot or plan. But if I couldn't explain it on the spot, do I truly understand my message?

Anyone who creates, collects, or admires art understands the importance of art's role. The artist makes deliberate choices about what to include and what to leave out to convey their message to the viewer. It's simple because it's your message, coming from within you, and you are creating from it. But do you understand what you are trying to get across?

Here's my attempt from my latest series, “Aussie Kulture. The series is a commentary on how I perceived the international representation of culture in Australia. Moving here after growing up in Ireland, with only TV and movies as my reference, I believed Australia was a vast outback full of spiders, snakes, and other deadly creatures. I thought everyone drank Fosters, the weather was unbearably hot, and everyone sounded like Steve Irwin. After living here for 17 years, I can tell you that almost none of that is true. Yet, these stereotypes still surface in international discussions about Australia.”

I think I figured out why this perception persists and what initially led me to explore this series. The Australian larrikin (joking) nature doesn't want to burst the bubble of anyone who holds unique beliefs about Australia. In America, when an American asks an Australian if they all ride kangaroos and keep koalas as pets, the typical response is, "I have two in case one is unwell." This is why I created the series: while each image is based on a fact, they are also somewhat fictional, much like the international narratives about Australian culture.

So, let me circle back and ask you the same question I was asked: What are you trying to say? In your writings, photos, paintings, and poems, be so clear about your message that your audience can look at your work and understand exactly where you are coming from and what you want us to get from it.