Bill Durgin has the ability to show just enough. I know I've written about this before, that it is important to sometimes strip down what you have rather than try to complicate it. But Durgin's work has a particular style that makes the viewer question just enough. He also uses nudes in a series called figure studies. In this study he literally puts a body in the most unrecognizable shape possible. If you look at some of his other work it is very simple, yet makes the viewer start to ask questions immediately after seeing a piece. This ability is incredible to me. My questions this time around, however is: What does nudity do for a photo. Is it necessary to express certain emotions/thoughts or does it still seem like a taboo thing to show, besides here at school? What can a nude model express differently than a clothed one?
2 comments:
I am crazy crazy hot for these photos! Yes, I just used that term for photography.... I had this very similar idea. We don't HAVE to use nudity to make good art...But we all know that clothes put a date on a picture. I am all about using people, without them being blatant. I really appreciate them and the way she has used them. I want to find a way to use the human body to create a sense of growth from the earth. There has always been such a fascination with the human body, and I am determined to find a way to study it. I know we only have a month, but that is actually a long time to use the knowledge of peers to help. This artist as accomplished that... This is a great post Jacki!
Jacki, I LOVE that you posted on Bill Durgin, I stumbled upon him last semester and was drawn to these figures as well. The most important part of the series "figure studies" for me is that in almost all of the photos you can't tell the gender of the person (except for the one where you can see the side of a breast) which is important when discussing nudity. I think that's it's only taboo if "private areas" are exposed or you know the gender of the figure, because then you are defining more that you are by just showing the back of a person.
As far as clothing goes, Mary has a good point, it certainly does date the photo. I think it also creates a staged presence. Nude figures are (usually) a person's skin that bears flaws, birthmarks, moles, an honest representation of their body in other words.. beautiful! (to me) Clothing introduces more to process. Looking through Durgin's work inspired me too... I am thinking a mix between Durgin and Aziz and Cucher?? I LOVE the "figures and wares" it makes me think of Laura Letinsky (again!!) I think I have a photo-crush on her. haha.
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