Skinscapes photographs that change the way we look at seeing
13 May 2010
Skinscapes is an exploration of human beauty. Photographers Anneliese Hough, Barry Thomas and Erin McNulty question, and present alternatives to, the synthetic, generic brand of beauty prevalent in co
Written by
Barry Noel Thomas
May 13, 2010
Skinscapes is an exploration of human beauty. Photographers Anneliese Hough, Barry Thomas and Erin McNulty question, and present alternatives to, the synthetic, generic brand of beauty prevalent in commercial media. Anneliese mercilessly attacks women’s magazines with scissors, recontextualising phrases, words, eyes and mouths – magazine snippets are given new life and meaning through surreal and poetic juxtapositions in her beautiful, quirky and empowering images. Barry’s Frowns remind us of the beauty in the way our individual lives and stories sculpt and imprint our physicality, and Erin’s series is a subtle and intimate survey of the geography of the body and its patterns, valleys and grasslands, through a macro lens.
Anneliese Hough’s images, produced on small acrylic blocks, spread over the gallery walls like ivy, a mosaic of daydreams and reflections on beauty with a subtle New Zealand flavour. This enchanted and sophisticated series also documents the gradual liberation of a creative spirit, and celebrates the creative process itself. Fitting, as this renowned freelance commercial and editorial photographer (the likes of Next magazine amongst her clients) is now steadily reemerging as an artist in her own right, recently exhibiting at Hastings City Art Gallery.
Barry Thomas has been a mover and shaker since the seventies. Trained at Ilam under Rudi Gopas, Barry makes social commentary through documentary and clay animation film and photography; social sculpture and intervention – such as planting cabbages in central Wellington in 1978, and airing bizarre ‘guerilla’ radical art advertisements or “rADz®” during ad-breaks in the 90s. He loves to shake up complacency to ‘Korporate Kapitalist Kulture’ – yet having also worked in commercial advertising, Barry has an interesting relationship with the mainstream. He can dance within it, jab it from outside – and turn its viewers in the other direction, as in this early composition:
Anneliese Hough’s images, produced on small acrylic blocks, spread over the gallery walls like ivy, a mosaic of daydreams and reflections on beauty with a subtle New Zealand flavour. This enchanted and sophisticated series also documents the gradual liberation of a creative spirit, and celebrates the creative process itself. Fitting, as this renowned freelance commercial and editorial photographer (the likes of Next magazine amongst her clients) is now steadily reemerging as an artist in her own right, recently exhibiting at Hastings City Art Gallery.
Barry Thomas has been a mover and shaker since the seventies. Trained at Ilam under Rudi Gopas, Barry makes social commentary through documentary and clay animation film and photography; social sculpture and intervention – such as planting cabbages in central Wellington in 1978, and airing bizarre ‘guerilla’ radical art advertisements or “rADz®” during ad-breaks in the 90s. He loves to shake up complacency to ‘Korporate Kapitalist Kulture’ – yet having also worked in commercial advertising, Barry has an interesting relationship with the mainstream. He can dance within it, jab it from outside – and turn its viewers in the other direction, as in this early composition:
"Oh, why don’t you break away?
You weren’t born to obey.
Come to the country – be rained on" (Barry Thomas - song c.)
Be rained on. This line sums up Skinscapes: embracing life raw, allowing ourselves to be weathered by it without editing the impact. Barry’s Frowns are sculpted by time, express and expose, and loom like dark clouds over our horizons. Anneliese sojourns into a wild imagination, and tackles notions of beauty head-on, wrestling, playing, teasing out subtleties and new meanings. Erin McNulty, a talented student of Raumati’s Photo School, ties it all together with an album of sweet, subtle photographic tributes to the folds and textures of the human body.
You weren’t born to obey.
Come to the country – be rained on" (Barry Thomas - song c.)
Be rained on. This line sums up Skinscapes: embracing life raw, allowing ourselves to be weathered by it without editing the impact. Barry’s Frowns are sculpted by time, express and expose, and loom like dark clouds over our horizons. Anneliese sojourns into a wild imagination, and tackles notions of beauty head-on, wrestling, playing, teasing out subtleties and new meanings. Erin McNulty, a talented student of Raumati’s Photo School, ties it all together with an album of sweet, subtle photographic tributes to the folds and textures of the human body.
Renee Gerlich (curator)
You are invited...
Skinscapes
Photographs by Anneliese Hough, Barry Thomas and Erin McNulty
Framework gallery, Seaview road
Paraparaumu Beach
May 17 – June 5
Photographs by Anneliese Hough, Barry Thomas and Erin McNulty
Framework gallery, Seaview road
Paraparaumu Beach
May 17 – June 5