Photo Book Works

Mia Semingson
Boulder, CO

39+: What Comes Around Goes Around

I turned thirty-nine on May 7, 2009 and I documented my 40th year of life by photographing every day. I used a “point-and-shoot” style digital camera to collect a series of snapshots to visually document and communicate the progression of this year of my life. As part of my project each day’s image references the previous day, either visually or conceptually. The project ended on my 40th birthday, May 7, 2010. The entire project can be viewed at http://39nomore.blogspot.com/. The final presentation of the project consists of twelve accordion fold books.

One aspect that I am exploring is the idea of the “third effect.” When one photograph is visually paired with another a visual dialog occurs. Although the meanings of the individual images are preserved, a third meaning that is highly subjective shifting and enigmatic is produced. Gestalt psychologists have labeled this cognitive experience to seeing isolated parts connected to a larger whole as “closure.” I see this visual connection as a metaphor for life itself- a build-up of experiences over the course of a year represented by the relationship of the images I have chosen each day.

Series of 12 books. Ink jet print on paper and book cloth. 5 x 5 x 1.5 inches. Opens out to eight feet long. 2010. Edition of 3.

$325 per book in the series of 12 or $3500 for the set.

To purchase, please contact Laura at 23 Sandy Gallery.

Artist Biography

Mia Semingson works in a variety of media including photography, video, performance, sculpture, and artists’ books. In 1998 she received her MFA in photography and electronic media from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She exhibits her work nationally and internationally including Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, and France.