Don Sucha

Untitled

360 degree panorama "little Planet" projection of a tree that has fascinated me for decades.

Artist biography

I was originally trained as a commercial photographer and attended programmes at The Banff School of Fine Arts and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. The majority of my working life was spent in the cultural sector as a museum preparator. I have a previous degree in Philosophy and am currently pursuing a degree-after in Art History. I usually divide my course work equally between Art History/Theory and Visual Art practice. I feel that in order to fully understand the historical and theoretical aspects of Art, I need to familiarise myself with the varied techniques, materials, and approaches used by artists working in different media. I still continue my photography practice but have developed an interest in print making as well.

Artist statement

My inspirations and influences have been expandibg throughout my time in the department of Art and Art History. Whereas my photographic practice was very insular in the past, I am now influenced more by the history of photography and theories which have developed since my practice began. I am influenced as much by the writings of Roland Barthes and Arthur Danto as I am by contemporary and historic photographers. Recently, however, I have been finding inspiration in the work of my classmates.

How did you start your art practice?

When I was a teenager, I commandeeredmy father's old 35mm Pentax SLR and decided I wanted to become a commercial photographer. I enrolled in the programme at NAIT but, in the meantime, I attended a two month summer session at the Banff School of Fine Arts (now the Banff Centre): my time there was seminal in my development. It changed the way I look at the visual world around me and opened my eyes to the possibilities of the art world.