PHOTOGRAPHS FROM A FAN BOYS CAMERA........................................Ryan Quast, September 2003

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM A FAN BOYS CAMERA
A photo-conceptualist project by Ryan Quast
In conjunction with SWARM IV

Opening Friday September 5th 2003
Curated by Colleen Heslin

Photographs from a fan boy’s camera is a paparazzi excursion of some Vancouver art stars (a.k.a. the Vancouver Boys School).  As an emerging artist based in Vancouver, Ryan Quast explores, fame, the contemporary art world and legacy’s from older generations that inspire and haunt younger generations of artists.  Quast has formed a parody on photo-conceptualism using Jeff Wall, Rodney Graham and Stan Douglas as subjects.  The artists in focus are renowned contemporary artists who primarily work within the medium of photography and video, and often use the city of Vancouver as a backdrop.  Within this installation, Quast has captured his subjects by using their own method of production, his representation of standard snapshots comments on the relationship between high and lowbrow contemporary art.

Photographs from a fan boys camera reflects the converging lines for public and private associated with fame, and the relativity of fame, by following the personal lives of public personas.  This body of work manages to deconstruct the super star as a common man, and also contextualizes contemporary art in relation to popular western culture.

Colleen Heslin 2003