Martin Buday

Lives and works in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Artist statement

Prophetic Kingdom Genesis 41: 29-31 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30. but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31. and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. This series is an ongoing photographic survey of everyday Americana: overlooked places, objects, buildings, vehicles, and signage. They are mostly vacant, emptied spaces, void of people but reeking of human presence. Photography describes more than can be explained. It forces attention, the need to look and look again. I want to be rewarded with surprise and a re-charged awareness of my surroundings, enjoying the subtle mysteries, symbols and metaphors found in the commonplace. “The timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.” Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet.

Artwork

• Suburban Photographic, Savannah, GA., 2003. archival inkjet print from negative
• House at Night, Gun Barrel, CO., 2010. archival inkjet print from negative
• Untitled (Clouds), Denver, CO., 2012. archival inkjet print from negative
• Prophetic Kingdom, Milford, DE., 2018. archival pigment print from black and white negative
• Hedges, Longmont, CO., 2010. archival inkjet print from color negative
• Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty, Rozel Point, UT., 2009. archival inkjet print from color negative
• Miller's Gun Center, New Castle, DE., 2018. archival inkjet print from black and white negative
• The Old Time Hotel, Go-Go Bar and Grill (now demolished), Warrington, PA., 2009. archival inkjet print from color negative
• Beware of the Dog, Alabama., 2016. archival pigment print from color negative
• The Ice Palace, West Philadelphia, PA., 2015. archival inkjet print from color negative