Male Nudes in Flowers

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on August 31, 2014 at 6:18pm

Curator’s Comments:  

 

These are quite interesting photographic works that join the human figure with animal forms in surreally invented dreamscapes.  There’s psychological tension in the juxtaposition of the dead and living such as in the pieces with figures holding the skull and lifeless bird, intimating bodily resurrection or spiritual reanimation.  I’m also drawn to the piece Male Nudes in Flowers for its usual formal qualities and use of masculine/feminine subject matter. The figures are only half reclined, creating a sensual but alert gesture.  The field of blue flowers contrasting the muted, achromatic men and background sharpen the archetypal division between man and nature, while concurrently alluding to a dreamy, Romantic vision.  They don’t appear particularly connected to their field environment or to each other, but instead exhibit an animalistic mood of heightened watchfulness or ready. I especially like that the piece voyeuristically draws the viewer into their space with a wide, lush foreground.