Mark S. Zimmerman is an American born artist. Born in Louisville, KY, and now residing in Jacksonville, FL. Mark is a visual artist who works primarily in photography, installation, performance, video, and sculpture. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design (BFA 2004) and the University of Florida (MFA 2010). In addition to working independently, Mark is also the founder and director of The Temporary Solution, an art collective built upon making art more participatory and publicly engaging. Mark is an internationally exhibited artist. Most notably, in 2017, Mark has participated in exhibitions at Loosen Art Gallery at Millepiani, Rome, Italy, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art, Gyeonggido, South Korea, and in the states, at Art Fields, a contemporary art festival in Lake City, SC, among others. In addition to the group shows mentioned above, Zimmerman was invited to have a solo exhibition at 621 Gallery in Tallahassee, FL where he exhibited the work titled, In Memory of a Switchboard Operator.
Artist Statement
Sentimentality has become a lost ideal. The significance of a secular object, something ephemeral, simply existing in the moment, can contain similar emotions, which are attached to something sacred.
An object, action, or even a sound, and definitely a scent can trigger a memory. Whether that memory is positive or negative, simply having a memory is a good thing. When that is gone, what do we have? It is important to remember the good times and the bad times. The good times, are like little weightless trophies, while the bad times teach us a valuable lesson. Remaining optimistic in the face of failure, that gives us character.
To smile, have a laugh, tell a story, new memories can be made. At no point should we stop remembering. Our stories can only evolve if we have someone to talk to.
It is my desire to influence a return to sentimentality in our culture. To appreciate the authenticity of a temporal exchange. Our history is dependent on exchange and without conversation, without dialogue, we will find ourselves lost, abandoned and confused.
To laugh, to cry, to struggle, to remember and to share that story. Even Facebook attempts to help us regain that feeling of sentimentality by forcing us to remember our artificial lives, the public life self-curated for the sake of our reputation.
We choose to represent the self in a way that pleases ourselves and the public. Is it wrong to laugh at yourself? Absolutely not. The moments that inspire that laughter or those tears inspire memories and opportunities to be authentic in the face of an artificial public.