Richard William Purvis
January 25 – February 22, 2024
Opening Reception: January 25th, 6–9PM
An ordinary day. An ordinary person. An extraordinary life.
How could the average image of an average day be anything but average itself? ImAverage explores just that.
Created from the personal photographic archives of the artist, this collection of composite images are layed and combined to create an average of images from an everyday moment in time. Somewhere between long-exposure photography and a visual puzzle, the image averages provoke a chain of questions asking exactly where, what and why it looks the way it does. Variations of the same photo combinations will show how perspective can change the way you see a situation.
This exhibition brings together the final works of the artist, completed in the last few months of life. Beyond the collection of images, Richard left behind his artistic intentions in a project notebook entrusted to his wife, Kim. There he shared his ideas, hopes, motivations, demonstrating his love of expression through art with all the possibilities for a future he would not have.
Self-deprecating and humble, Richard never had the chance to share this work publicly. It was never ready. It wasn’t there yet. As keeper of his life’s work, I challenge the idea that his work was “not ready” and invite you to do the same. You see what you see. You find what you find. And as you let the images speak for themselves, remember these two things:
There is always beauty and potential in the average, and share your work with the world. It needs to see it and you can’t take for granted the time you have left.
– Kim Zarzuela
About the Artist
Richard William Purvis was a multimedia artist based in Hamilton, focused on photography, experimental filmmaking, and unconventional storytelling. A curious and creative soul, Richard gravitated towards creative work, pursuing his BA in Media Arts from Royal Holloway University of London, and his MA in Anthropology of Media from the SOAS University of London.
Originally from the UK, Richard’s photography and creative work was a driving force. He lived and traveled in countries around the world, with his collection of photographs spanning multiple countries and continents including England, South Korea, Japan, Scotland and Canada. He settled with the love of his life in her hometown of Hamilton in 2019, excited to join the local artist community and be steps away from film productions across the city.
Sadly, after being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2021, Richard passed away in December 2022. He entrusted his beloved wife as the keeper of his creative work with the hope of bringing more light into the world, even after he is gone.
About the Keeper
As a professional communicator, my capacity to be creative trends pragmatically. I am not an artist, but I am a storyteller. I’m someone who finds the connection between things, seeing the world unfold and the systems that propel it.
After meeting Richard in Yokohama, Japan, back in 2015, I had no idea that my heart would be captured by a man who did not possess a single linear thought in his mind. I saw Richard for not just who he was, but why he was that way. I loved him for it. And as luck would have it, he loved me right back.
I cared for him throughout his cancer journey, physically, mentally and emotionally tending to all his ailments. A couple weeks before his unexpected decline we began planning how we could work together to share his art with the world. He didn’t make it this far, but I promised him I’d find a way. It’s my honour to share his creative legacy with you.
About Factory Media Centre
Factory Media Centre is Hamilton’s not-for-profit artist-driven resource centre for film, video, new media, installation, sound art, and other multimedia art forms. Our mission is to develop and support a vibrant, sustainable, creative, and diverse community of Members and non-Members within Hamilton and its surrounding region.