As an artist, I use a variety of mediums to convey my ideas. To date, these have included site-specific sculpture, time-based film, performance, sound, photography, and writing.
I am a student of history - histories that, unfortunately, many choose to ignore.
Recently, I rediscovered one of my earliest research projects in an archival box that had been in storage for decades. One evening, as a 21-year-old undergraduate at the Rochester Institute of Technology, I had the good fortune to have dinner at the home of the Director of the George Eastman House, Robert Sobieszek. During the meal, I asked Robert if, on my next visit to the museum, I might be able to view the catalog of George Eastman’s personal book collection, which was displayed floor-to-ceiling in Eastman’s home library, a subsidiary of the connected International Museum of Photography. I imagined the books were placed on their shelves by Eastman himself, though I knew this was likely not factual. Robert told me that Eastman’s books had never been cataloged.
Within months, when not working on my photographic projects at the college, I was spending countless hours sitting behind velvet ropes and bronze stanchions in George Eastman’s personal wingback chair as tour groups meandered past. Guests must have wondered how George could appear so young.
That year, I cataloged each one of George Eastman’s books, including the titles, publishers, publication dates, and edition numbers. What brought me the most joy was reading Eastman’s personal notes in the book margins, as well as the inscriptions written to him by others—including Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. I cataloged these as well.
Looking back, it is clear to me that I have been curious about history throughout my life, and my work reflects this. Importantly, I am never interested in history within a vacuum. My interests invariably relate to how our histories can help us understand our present.
My projects are primarily influenced by my societal concerns. Today, we live in a far more polarized society than I ever could have imagined. I explore these concerns through artistic mediums to better understand our world. The renowned French art critic Roland Barthes coined the term punctum—meaning “to prick.” I wish to prick the viewer with my work. In doing so, I hope for the viewer to respond in a myriad of possible ways.
As an artist, author, and professor, I have dedicated my life to sharing the exciting possibilities that art offers to make our communities kinder places to live.
Daniel Levin, MFA
Portrait of Daniel Levin © Billy Delfs, 2023