The process of personal self discovery leads us to the psychological quest every artist takes to obtain self-knowledge. This then provides the urge to know who we are and who we might become based on our actions. In other words, our actions are what make us individuals. These actions and our process assist in physically determining the outcome of the image.
In most of Thompson’s works, the recurring theme is identity. Thompson questions the notion of racial identity, whether it deals with questioning her own identity or the identity of an entire social group. As humans there is a habitual need of surrounding ourselves with others of color that dominate who we are physically and psychologically. This needs and challenges not only Thompson as an artist but as a woman of color. Color signifies a greater idea. Thompson embodies color as both the subject and object.
Thompson cannot imagine a world without color. We are surrounded by it everyday. Color constantly changes before our eyes. It is impossible to see color by itself without it interacting with the surrounding. Color influences other colors differently. Thompson is interested in the interaction between color and light. Her initial focus is color and how each color reacts to one another and how light can suddenly transform color; whether it may be another tone or a completely different form. Thompson’s central concept focuses on making color the subject. This is the key to each of the images. To understand color one must experience for one’s self. Thompson looks at the process as a personal journey. Understanding that the power of color is important. It can transport us to a spiritual or emotional state. It is an overwhelming experience and often may be a transcendental experience. As an artist exploring the idea of color is quite an uncertain, anxious experience as well. Each image contains colors that were not predetermined. In the beginning, one color is chosen then it is built up or enhanced by another. The influencing color is prominent from the influenced color. Building up to reveal itself in a compositional visual space of pure expression.
Along the process of self-discovery, the idea of the personal discovery of the materials is prominent in Thompson’s artistic quest. The initial stage of her work is to experiment and utilize simple subject matter (human figure and/or object) and to create sequential pieces consisting of the same materials. Thompson then investigates the work from two points of view ----- as a photographer and as sculptor. Thompson constructs sets with materials with or without a human figure, which she then photographs. Then utilizing the understanding of color alongside the material. Thus creating the end product of the image. This experience provides the opportunity to view the process as the ideal form. Thompson’s central concept of her work is the experimentation of color with reaction to light. As the artist, Thompson wants to document such moments. The concept leads her to the process that reveals the image for what is, an image taken with a photographic process.
Katherine Thompson is a photographer and designer living and working in Northern Virginia. She is an alumnus of the George Mason University School of Art, BFA Photography 2015.