Kevin Bauman was raised in metro Detroit; brought up by American parents. He is part German, Polish, Irish, French, Swiss, and in his words "who knows what else". As a child, he was cultured as a Catholic. He now does not consider himself a Catholic. His school education consisted of mainly public schools. Kevin did not enjoy school until he got to college. School wasn't all bad for Kevin, he enjoyed sports and art. Sports and art were his way of coping because school is and was a pain. He spent one year of college in Colorado but had his previous education in Michigan. He graduated from Oakland University, in Rochester, MI, with a Bachelor in Arts in Sociology. Bauman was introduced at an young age with photography; he discloses that "early on my parents were interested in art. My father was an architect, and my mother was a painter, so I was exposed to art at an early age." Kevin states some key things about his background is that "I tended to be introspective, and shy, which why I tended not to fit in at school. While it was a social hindrance, I think it helped me to focus on the things I really liked. I was distracted by a lot of the school peer pressure, as I was pretty much left out. I've always been curious, enjoy being outdoors, and didn't mind wandering around aimlessly for hours at a time. All of which are good traits for photography, in my opinion." I asked Kevin what he finds most interesting about himself and he responds "I don't think I'm very interesting, though I am a husband, and a father. I have plenty of interests, including music, art, biking, running, hockey, building a business, and trying to be a better person each day."
Style:
"I tend to think of most of my photography as documentary. And, if I was to choose a genre, I would say it's most like the New Topographics which is the "man-altered landscapes". I've always been intrigued by decaying, human built structures." -Kevin Bauman. Kevin Bauman takes photographs of decaying architecture and landscapes. His style is documentary. He influences simplicity, minimalism and melancholy in his photographs. Kevin has multiple projects he has worked on and my personal favorite is the project titled: 100 abandoned buildings. These projects show that he isolates buildings or singular subjects that have been altered with erosion and decay or a growth of nature. He takes raw pictures; how he sees and feels them to be in the moment. He has a very real and distinct style where it varies from time in the day to where it is taken. Majority of his images have been taken across Detroit. Kevin usually takes his photographs in metro Detroit because he grew up there. Kevin also states that "I think the bleakness was a feeling that was always under the surface when I lived in metro Detroit, and it came through in the photos."
Philosophy:
Kevin tells me that his purpose for the images he makes hopefully spring interest but that is not what his photography is all about. He takes pictures for himself if it is not for a client. Kevin says "they need to be compelling to me first, otherwise I'm not going to make the image." He goes on "Beyond that, I think people often relate to an image. People who have moved away from Detroit seem to like the images of Detroit, while folks who like the outdoors seem to like the landscape images. When it comes to some of the images of Detroit, I hope the images encourage viewers to ask questions and seek answers." I think that this is a very heavy and heartfelt statement, Bauman is talking about his home and the point of his photographs and I totally agree with him. I asked Kevin how has he grown as an artist and he replies "I think I've grown as an artist by coming to understand what I want to do, what I don't want to do, and what I don't worry about. I'm not concerned about what others think. Of course, I'm happy when people like my work, but I've found that what I'm most passionate about is most likely to be appreciated by others, and I'm more likely to enjoy making it. I've also learned that being an artist is just a part of who I am, and it's not the most important part." Kevin struggles with making a living off his artwork. He stopped full-time photography in '08. Kevin also struggles with the judgement he receives from himself but knows that he can grow from it and not to let it in and give up.
Influences:
Bauman is mainly fascinated with abandoned buildings and decaying structures. Some artists he has been influenced by are Bernd and Hilla Becher, Edward Burtynsky, Stephen Shore, Richard Misrach, and Michael Kenna. "Some non-photography favorites include Toshiko Takaezu (ceramics), Josh Keyes (painting), Mark Rothko (painting)." -Kevin Bauman. I am influenced by Kevin Bauman because of how real his art is. It has inspired me to not stress as much as what you are photographing as long as it is meaningful to the artist. I also am attracted to abandoned buildings too, so he has this way with this crumbled architecture that makes me curious and intrigued. He has beautiful art and puts a lot of thought into his work in a positive way and I aspire to be that way myself. I like how he says that he has grown as a artist by understanding and accepting what he wants to do, what he does not want to do and what he does not worry about; I highly respect that because I feel like that is something hard to overcome and be good with, yet he seems like he's got it all figured out. I recognize and admire that.
first thing to say first, is that his images are by far better and more aesthetic and professional than mine. a similarity is that i took pictures of the same buildings he took pictures of. they're in detroit. differences for the first photograph of the charlotto lounge is that his is photographed head on everything at the same eye level where it's equally distributed. his is taken with a real camera, most likely set up with more staging and thought put into. unlike mine where i took a few images were i experimented with different angles to be as similar to his as possible. an obvious difference throughout all the images is that all the buildings had changed and keep changing. for the charlotto lounge, it is not just that my camera is angled slightly upward (because i am short and didn't set up the camera), it's that the windows are broken and there is a new coat of paint that is pink make the photo look off-balance. there is more and less to the building now. something i could've worked harder is setting up the camera in the right spot. for the other two images again the angles are slightly off and their are additions like the handicap ramp for the church and the fact that it is not winter. the seasons are a big thing in these images because the winter and the snow make his images more surreal and mine are more casual.
Personal Artist Statement:
overall, i am pleased with my work. i had a fun time going to detroit with my brother and rushing around to all these old sketchy buildings. all of them have a deeper meaning to them and i am glad i got to see it in person. although, i wish i spent more time looking at them and less time on my phone with the camera. Kevin Bauman gave me a map of his work in detroit and my brother and i drove around to most of those places going in circles sometimes because i didn't plan it. for most of the buildings i went to they were filled with nothingness but empty lots filled with grass. at least Bauman captured the building or house before it was demolished. for the image "juxtaposition" i think it is fascinating that the little house's paint is all chipped away in my photo more than his and that the door is new in mine but defeated in his. it is the opposites right next to each other that see me. the church image had a lot of factors in it and i had a good time tryna piece it all together like a puzzle. the setting wasn't exactly the same because of the season. the charlotto lounge reminds me of charlotte. who wouldve known. i wish i had spent more thought with these places and images but it turned out fine. i wanted to go in them but my bro didn't let me. these buildings fascinate me and this artist fascinates me because they capture this gritty loneliness. most of his pictures calm me but also fill me with curiosity.