Mark Strodl is an internationally acclaimed Photo Artist, having been hired as Michael Dweck as his photograher. Having studied at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan under Johanathan Borofsky, Jennifer Bartlett, Mel Bochner, & Louise Bourgeois. He is deeply rooted in the historic tradition in Fine Arts having studied under these mentors. Big as in Avedon, influienced by Vik Muniz, Guy Boudin, Weegie, Brassier, Jacques Henri Lartigue, Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray, D. Arbus, as photographers, Wang Quinsong, Warhol, & Duchamp, as Artists.
In Photographic history they are known to Document Life, Time as a medium.
As in Brady & the Civil War, Brassier & France beforeWWI, Eisenstaedt before WWII. I do not.
A serious artist should have depth, continuity, direction, & storyline, a series in serious reflection, introspection & resolved. Three years in the making, although they do look effortless, fresh. In this new age I am taking it much further, saying no this is paint, not a document, not photography an historical record, not time. My images are timeless, Spiritual, they will be just as relevant 100 years from now. Much like Man Ray, A. Adams, D. Arbus.
Generally they are about the human condition, that struggle,
the beauty in life after we have fought.
Our Perseverance, Hope & reason.
I do not limit myself to time.
I push the boundaries of our allowable perception of reality & what we accept by asking these simple questions to you. Things enter and leave time all together, no one or nothing is safe within this world. Always pushing the envelope, my work alludes to the organic presence within this technical medium, bringing the viewer to new acceptable realms of awareness, when these questions arise. I am a romantic, that endless emotion that is so universal in any language, so my work drips with these universal feelings.
In this series I am trying to show man against man, this fading society, that struggle & fragility.
Glasses :
As a child I wore glasses. Alliniation, instant freaks. I was Diane Arbus before it was ever fashionable. Yes we still live for today, called geeks, nerdy, homey, intelligent, accepted as norm, yet are we ?
Mothers :
Women & age, aging gracefully. What a price in vanity, when through no fault of your own, our bodies surrender to time. A woman accession through her body is this amazing metamorphosis. From being a nothing at 8 years, to in a short 5 years getting all of this attention, respect, looks, & admirers. No matter how much we deny this never judge a book by it's cover, we all do.
Horses :
I have been all over the world.
Long Island rich with it's own cleshe's, yet this is not one of them.
With over 100 horse farms scattered all over the Island, in this subterranean world.
Beneath the mall rats, of I phones is really this very wholesome place, a place of hope,
a dangerous place in falling, a place of bonding with your best friend.
It is a world of 9 through 18 year old women and the biggest friend they shall ever have.
At 1200 pounds they are very serious, yet just as loving, beautiful, and amazing.
It is a story of bonding, not just the rich of friendships, of competition of helping each other,
and endless memories after they have stopped ...
Before the innocence is forgotten.
Indians :
What has changed in a 100 years ?
Allot, yet these people are struggling against this modern society,
of a world changing, subversing their kids, their culture,
all while trying to maintain their identi after being slaughtered.
Extremely Sprirtural, Different, possibly better, what can be learned, reasoned ?
Remembered & taught ?
De construction, Watercolors, & Printmaking :
I have left no holes barred. Never to deceive photogrpahy,, yet to see, explore, a totally different perspective. As a print making medium all unto itself.
Much like when I used to do etchings in Collage, that long laborious process in ripping apart, or reassembling the print, to get to your desired ends.
DE CONSTRUCTION, SHREDDING: Less is More : Is the process in where you eliminate areas that are un necessary information that distract.
Much like in seeing, it is only those things necessary that we need to communicate. Editing & reassembling much like old fashioned printmaking, etchings.
NATURAL, WATERCOLORS : Is where in this technical, mechanical medium, expression becomes Organic, Natural, Flowing like a brush, soft, Transparent. Much like the French would do with their neutral canvas, This is my light medium, from where I begin.
INVENTION : Every piece is different, the discovery, the magic, asking the viewer to participate, getting involved hopefully.
SERIES : I use a series as diaogues, words in a poem.