KELLY WRITERS HOUSE

Matthew Kime

NIGHTWALK

ARTIST STATEMENT

 
While wandering through the shadows of the city, I maintain a constant awareness of everything around me. No one sneaks up on me. I tense as I see the silhouette of a stranger approach and pass me. I watch carefully as they pass, ensuring that I'm prepared for any encounter that may occur. Are they homeless and desperate for money? Insane? What reason do they have for being out at night?

My only aim is to leave the grid of the city. This often leads me to places that are less orderly than the rest of the city. There are abandoned structures and lost clothing. I grow tired as I wander for hours, burdened by my heavy equipment. Setting up the camera and exposing the film is a commitment to a period of increased vulnerability. Putting my head beneath the dark cloth is a struggle against fear. Opening the shutter commences eight minutes in which I can't go elsewhere.