Everyday Poetics

Everyday Poetics consists of photographs taken in Chris Hill's birthplace of Oklahoma City and his current home in Indianapolis. His photographs often depict scenes from his daily life, and often in the overlooked. 

Hill considers public expressions to be social affirmations of existence. As an artist, this is where his work begins. "My work primarily stems from traversing places by foot or bus, finding projections by and or for the marginalized in public spaces," says Hill. "I find social affirmations of existence especially important among the marginalized, who in many cases are deemed as insignificant or invisible." 

Hill's process for taking photographs is thoughtful and intuitive. When Hill encounters something that visually interests him, he will draw a sketch of the scene, note its location and direction relative to the sun, and then return at a different time of day with his camera to take the photograph. Hill's work is not just a documentation of the strange scenes he encounters, but always holds a feeling of discovery and revelation, and asks broader questions about the world the images exist in.

Hill will sometimes expand on his interest in making photographs by incorporating other materials to highlight an image or idea. As he produces work, Hill creates a relationship with the images that emphasizes a personal, political, and often poetic narrative, inviting viewers to do the same.