The Camera Club of New York

Sean J McCormick is a conceptual artist working with traditional photographic materials. Through his work he challenges modern scientific research by pursuing subjects that are difficult to understand within the context of rational thought – the basis of scientific research. Using the freedom granted to an artist he conducts research without the constraints of scientific systems in order to foster dialogue on the development of alternative systems of research and to show how the conclusions of the scientific community have a great impact on the belief systems of our society.

In his latest on-going body of work, McCormick interviews and photographs people who have had what are known as Near Death Experiences, or NDE’s. These subjects have temporarily died and come back to life after suffering an accident or illness. During their NDE’s, his subjects have had incredible experiences they can hardly put into words. They remember their experiences to be very real-as something that actually happened-not a dream or cloudy memory. He presents photographs of the subjects along with stories that he distills from interviews with them. Viewers are invited to challenge their own beliefs about why a subject such as NDE is considered ‘para-normal.’
In an earlier body of work, McCormick suggests the possibility of us having lived in a past life. Scenes from a possible past life are super-imposed on the face of his subjects. Only traditional analogue photographic material are used including double exposures on color photographic paper and photograms of foliage. McCormick underwent a past life regression session as research.