Not only is that art of McDermott & McGough a simulation
but so was their lives for a long time. They
very much took the words of Baudrillard very seriously. From the early 80’s to 1995 all parts of their
lives were a simulation of a bygone era.
During this time there work focused mainly on the creation of period photographic
pieces. They would use an old form of
photography but also have their subject dressed in period clothing and posed as
they would have been from that period. And
beyond there work, they lived their lives as a period piece. They would dress as turn of the century “men
about town” and even converted there house to be completely turn of the
century.
However, in 1995 they stopped
living in this manner, and that is when there work became very interesting. They continued in the same manner that they
had before only now their work also took on new implications. Once they stopped living in the past they let
the present begin to influence their images.
While still period pieces they let used them as a mirror against the
modern world to show just what little progress we have really made.
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| Cigarette Break, 1958 McDermott & McGough 2007 |
I am glad you decided to post this picture. It was my favorite of the ones you showed of their work.
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