Talk:John Cato

Latest comment: 2 years ago by Jamesmcardle in topic Animist?

Here are some useful resources for researching John Cato

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  • Bennet, David; Agee, Joyce (1988). The thousand mile stare: a photographic exhibition. Melbourne: The Victorian Centre for Photography. ISBN 0731620542. (available in the Hub at PSC)
  • Crombie, Isobel; Van Wyk, Susan (2002). 2nd sight: Australian photography in the National Gallery of Victoria. Melbourne: National Gallery of Victoria. ISBN 0724102116. (available in the Hub at PSC)
  • Newton, Gael (1988). Shades of Light. Canberra: Australian National Gallery. ISBN 0642081522. (available in the Hub at PSC)
  • Willis, Anne-Marie (1988). Picturing Australia: a history of photography. North Ryde: Angus and Robertson.ISBN 0207155992. (available in the Hub at PSC)

Louibu (talk) 20:08, 2 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

Animist?

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@Jamesmcardle: on what basis did you add Category:Animists? [1]Fayenatic London 18:11, 11 November 2022 (UTC)Reply

Dear Fayenatic London,
Cato in his teaching described his art as founded on a belief in animism, a discussion of which is to be found in Nankin, Harry (2014). Gathering Shadows: landscape, photography and the ecological gaze (Doctoral thesis ed.). Melbourne: School of Art, College of Design and Social Context, RMIT University. p. 64.
Also the statement "everything physical has a spiritual presence" in Bunyan, Marcus (2013). "Critical acclaim : Australia". In Gracey, Bryan; Cox, Paul (eds.). John Cato: Retrospective and Celebration of the Life of an Australian Landscape Photographic Artist. Wilkinson Publishing. pp. np. ISBN 9781922178091.
Also Rebecca Hossack in her chapter "Towards the elemental" in the same book; "Cato is not content to see himself merely as an 'artist' or a 'photographer He describes himself - in his beliefs - as an 'animist: "I believe that rocks have souls just as much as people. I think the word that has been used about my work which pleases me the most, is [.] Elemental, and it is that element of life within the landscape that to some is a deep religious experience." It is a vision that he traces back to the mythology of the Ancient Greeks, but it has interesting resonances, too, with the beliefs of the Australian aboriginals and the practice of their art."
On that basis, and from titles of his works and exhibitions, it is apt to categorise Cato as an animist; it is a cardinal descriptor of his ideas and practice. Jamesmcardle(talk) 01:15, 12 November 2022 (UTC)Reply
Thanks, that was well worth writing up. – Fayenatic London 08:36, 12 November 2022 (UTC)Reply
Thank you for the prompt! Jamesmcardle(talk) 11:38, 12 November 2022 (UTC)Reply