Communicating Change
Photographer Nevin Robinson Talks to A&U?s Rhomylly
B. Forbes About Creative Survival and What He Learned at
Summer Camp
I am only one person living a
fulfilling life, living
with HIV. Others have said to me that I have gotten more
out of life than anyone they know. Some of those folks
have [gone] through their own confrontations. Some win.
Others do not. I have an inherent responsibility to show
and to teach...it has been eight years that I have now
lived with HIV. During this time I have documented my experience
using the medium of photography and the gift of communication,
technically and verbally, to record my experiences and
my memories so that I may share them with others.
"From
the Artist's Statement
Rhomylly B. Forbes: You've said 'I have a driving desire to communicate change.' Can you speak more about that?
Nevin Robinson: I feel comfortable enough and secure
enough to open myself up through photography. Photography
documents my experience, helps me share something personal,
and hopefully helps other people with HIV, cancer, something
life-threatening. Documenting the rocky roads in my life,
I hope, helps other people feel better. I believe that
people who share their stories help others live a better
life.
It's a cliche, but it's true: The energy you put out does
come back to you.
When I was showing in graduate school, the comment I received
the most was that my work was ?too personal.? But select
groups, individuals, could identify with me and what I
was trying to express.
Tell me about your models. How do you choose them?
I know most of them, they're my friends, the really good
people I've surrounded myself with. What I've learned from
each of them shows in the photographs. For instance, my
friend Stephane has survived a tragedy of his own that
he shouldn't have a serious car accident. He's still here,
and he shouldn?t be. That?s very positive.
The women I photograph are strong, inspirational, and
very determined. They don't fit stereotypes. One of them
had cosmetic surgery a few years ago, and is proud of it.
She had low self-esteem and thought surgery would help.
As she grew older, she realized that surgery was not what
it took to be beautiful. But she had to go through surgery
to realize that.
You've also talked about photography
as a way to 'create emotions.' What do you mean by that?
I feel like I'm almost cheating, in a way, because in
my work science meets art. Photography is an art form,
it can create emotions, make someone feel a certain thing.
But it's also science, and the photographs can be manipulated.
You can put the images together to create something not
necessarily true or real, but that will impact the emotions.
There was a series I did during a tumultuous break-up'an
empty bed, empty bookshelf, very dark corridor all shot
in my apartment. But my flat isn't dark. I live in San
Francisco with 360 sunny days a year! [Laughs.] But I was
able to make the photos darker, to create a feeling?my
emotions at the time of the break-up.
What do you want your work to say to the next generation
of HIV-positive people?
Even in the tiniest glimmer of hope is the greatest possibility
for a long and normal life.
I have these images to look back on and think of?many
of my models are living with HIV, cancer, a horrible auto
accident. And life still goes on. Not only that, but it
can be even better in the future.
Without meeting them face to face I can only hope that
people will get the messages behind my images. There?s
nothing better than sitting down with people, but I hope
my pictures show my emotions and relay my message.
Tell me about Sunburst Projects.
It's an organization for children and teens and their
families living with HIV and AIDS. Either the kids are
infected, or someone in their family a sibling, parent?is
HIV-positive.
I've volunteered as a counselor at the summer camp since
1997. There are different camps: one for the littler kids,
one for teens, and one for kids with their parents. It's
a wonderful experience, overwhelming. Sixty kids, forty
parents, ninety degrees, and somehow it all comes together.
Sometimes it's the only place where the kids can express
how they feel about the disease, and it often gives them
a chance to know other kids who are coping with AIDS in
some way. They share stories and go back to school knowing
they?re not alone. They're not isolated any more.
These children are absolutely inspiring. Here are kids
literally fighting to live, taking a phenomenal amount
of drugs. I know one kid who comes to breakfast every morning
and swallows sixteen pills without water! [Laughs.] I can?t
do that!
The counselors get such a kick out of it, too. I know
a lot of long-term counselors, HIV-positive and negative,
who carefully save all their vacation days during the year
so they can work at the camp. It?s just a really good place.
What would you say to young artists, HIV-positive or
negative, just starting out?
Don't give up! Don't let the modern American education
system convince you to be a lawyer or businessman if you
don't want to be. We're just not encouraged to be in touch
with what we love in this country. We?re taught that the
pursuit of money is more important. People who don't pursue
creativity die inside.
Try not to lose your creative passion. Never give up, art
doesn't have to be expensive. There are a lot of ways to
express yourself.
For more information on Nevin Robinson?s art and Sunburst
Projects, log on to
www.nevinphotography.com. A&U wishes to thank Visual
AID, which has worked with Nevin Robinson, for its help
with this article. Visual AID is a non-profit organization
whose mission is to provide supportive services to artists
with life-threatening illnesses so they may continue their
creative work. Visit the organization on the Web at www.visualaid.org.
Rhomylly B. Forbes interviewed artist Rob Anderson
for the July 2003 issue.
October 2003
Kiley, 2000, black and white gelatin silver, 20
by 20 inches
Emanuel, 2001, black and white gelatin silver,
14 by 14 inches
Giovanni, 2003, black and white gelatin silver,
12 by 12 inches
Emily, 2001, black and white gelatin silver, 12
by 12 inches
Jimmi
