David Aston

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The Unidentified Living Object (ULO) Series includes sculptural photographic works which explored the transient nature of identity, context and value through the curation of anonymous antique photographs. These early works came from my historical research into the invention, evolution and social assimilation of photography in the mid 19th century. Antique photographs of anonymous sitters were purchased and recorded before being recontextualised as artworks, commodified and turned into objects of gamification, altering the contemporary appraisal of their age, provenance, personal and social value, and exposing the potential for both copyright and copywrong in the recontextualisation of historical and personal objects. 

Early ULOs included mid 19th century American ferrotypes or direct positive photographs printed on metal| and celluloid negatives which have been recontextualised as time-travelling postcards, calling cards or consumables without name, age or context.