“My artistic style comes right out of blindness. I look for metaphors of blindness to create my work and it dictates my style.”
Shaping a Creative Life Against the Odds
Pete Eckert‘s journey into the art world began as a sculptor trained in the classical style of Rodin. He initially envisioned a future in architecture, intending to study at Yale. However, life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a condition that would eventually lead to total blindness. Faced with the reality of his condition, Eckert pivoted to pursuing an MBA, seeing it as a practical way to navigate a rapidly shifting world. His early experiences reflect a deep resilience, marked by his ability to adapt and transform challenges into new opportunities.
His early years of blindness were filled with uncertainty, but Eckert’s artistic spirit remained indomitable. As his vision faded, he found solace in tactile forms of expression like woodcutting and lathe work, creating intricate pieces he could “see” through touch. Yet, these mediums posed limitations, and his quest for a more immediate and impactful form of art continued. The rediscovery of an old Kodak camera became the catalyst for a new chapter in his life, leading Eckert to embrace photography—a medium he once dismissed. His journey into photography was fueled by curiosity, determination, and an evolving appreciation for the interplay of light and shadow, even as his sight disappeared.
Pete Eckert: The Metaphors of Blindness
Eckert’s artistic style is profoundly shaped by his blindness, which he describes as both a limitation and a source of inspiration. Unlike traditional photographers, Eckert doesn’t capture images but builds them, often working in complete darkness. His process is an intricate dance of sound, memory, and touch, with his mind’s eye serving as the primary lens through which he views his work. This unique approach has allowed him to create images that are deeply conceptual, reflecting the metaphors of blindness in ways that challenge conventional perceptions of art and sight.
Themes of transformation and resilience permeate Eckert’s work. He often develops small batches of photographs around a single concept, immersing himself fully in the exploration of a theme. His workspace—a dark, minimal environment—mirrors the essence of his creative process. Blindness becomes not a hindrance but a lens, shaping his compositions in ways sighted artists might overlook. Through his innovative techniques, Eckert transforms blackness into a rich canvas, making the unseen not only visible but compelling.
The influence of artists like Rodin, Picasso, and the Impressionists is evident in Eckert’s work. From Rodin’s emphasis on texture to Picasso’s ever-evolving style and work ethic, these influences have helped shape Eckert’s artistic vision. He approaches his photography with the same relentless experimentation and dedication that defined these iconic figures, ensuring that his work resonates on both a conceptual and emotional level.
A Medium Born of Necessity
Eckert’s choice of photography as a medium was born from both practical and creative considerations. Sculpture, his first love, required physical space and resources he no longer had. Photography, by contrast, offered a way to create and share his vision in a more accessible format. His initial experiments with an old Kodak camera, equipped with an infrared setting, sparked a fascination with the invisible wavelengths of light. For Eckert, this symbolic connection to the unseen mirrored his own experience of blindness, reinforcing his commitment to the medium.
Photography also provided Eckert with an avenue to engage with the sighted world. While his process relies on touch, sound, and intuition, his final images resonate visually, bridging the gap between his experience and that of his audience. His innovative approach to photography involves meticulous planning, guided by his memory and understanding of light. With the help of trusted collaborators for feedback, he refines his work to ensure it aligns with his artistic intent.
His creative philosophy extends beyond the technical aspects of photography. Eckert views his work as a bridge between the blind and sighted communities. By sharing his process and the resulting images, he invites viewers to reconsider their assumptions about blindness, fostering a deeper understanding of the condition and its impact on creativity.
Pete Eckert: Seeing Beyond Sight
One of Eckert’s most cherished inspirations is Alexander Calder’s mobile at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The whimsical, seemingly weightless structure embodies a balance of engineering and artistry that Eckert deeply admires. Calder’s ability to convey complex ideas through simple forms has guided Eckert’s own work, reminding him that art need not rely on sight to evoke emotion or meaning.
Eckert’s artistic journey is also deeply personal. His early struggles with blindness were marked by fear and isolation, but art became a lifeline, reconnecting him with the world. He views his photographs not just as images but as experiences, capturing the essence of a moment as he perceives it through sound, memory, and touch. His nightly excursions with his guide dog Uzu have become a ritual, allowing him to immerse himself in the sensory details of the world around him.
For Eckert, the act of creating art is as important as the final product. His photographs serve as a dialogue between his mind’s eye and the sighted world, encouraging audiences to question their preconceptions about vision and creativity. By redefining what it means to see, Eckert has carved out a unique space in the art world, proving that true vision transcends physical sight. His work continues to challenge, inspire, and expand the boundaries of artistic expression.
