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The Chair - Fine Art Nude Photography

Christopher John Ball

$65.95   $56.29

Paperback

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English
Britannia Street Theatre and Arts Publishing
25 April 2023
"The nude and the chair have long been used by artists in a wide range of styles and periods, and their use continues to evolve and inspire new artistic interpretations. The chair can be used as a symbol or metaphor for human presence or absence, power dynamics, or social roles. In art, chairs can be used to suggest the presence of a person who has recently left the room or anticipation of return. In portraiture, chairs can be used to convey the sitter's social status or occupation. Chairs can be simple, functional or decorative but a chair not being used could be said to be a chair without purpose. The nude figure can be used to convey emotion or psychological states, such as vulnerability, sensuality, or power. It can be used to challenge or subvert dominant cultural norms, such as feminist, disability or queer critiques of the objectification, exclusion, idealisation and commercialisation of the human body. Continuing on within this tradition, Christopher John Ball has long been drawn to their use as subjects within his work. Simple chairs, ornate chairs, broken chairs, soft chairs, sofas, he enjoys making images that combine both the chair and the human figure. Christopher will often use a 'broken chair', or will remove part of the chair, so that the model can engage with its interior or framework. He will play with the parallels and similarities of the pieces that make up a chair and the human frame. The chairs within his photographs are intended to have character and it is the interaction between model and chair that is of importance within the final images. The 130+ monochrome photographs within this monograph were made between 1992 and 2010, in various locations within London, using a variety of film equipment including TLR, pin-hole, Holga, Diana and various vintage cameras. Christopher will also often manipulate, cut and paste, scratch and bleach negatives to create a distressed aesthetic. ""...sensual nudes that pay homage to the female form in a manner that is both graceful and elegant. Very rarely do we come across a portfolio that strikes us so deeply..."" - The New Nude Magazine."

By:  
Imprint:   Britannia Street Theatre and Arts Publishing
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 216mm,  Width: 216mm,  Spine: 10mm
Weight:   386g
ISBN:   9780992689933
ISBN 10:   0992689937
Pages:   150
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

"Christopher John Ball BA (Hons) MA is a widely exhibited and published, award winning, London based, fine arts photographer, writer, campaigner, curator, arts juror and lecturer. With over 45 years experience as an artist - his work is held within public and private collections worldwide. His art work, views and opinions are very much in demand and he has contributed articles on photography, the arts, politics, philosophy and other topics for various international publications and media outlets. Christopher was selected as a juror for both the 2008/09 'Erotic Signature' annual international arts competition and the 'Erotic Review Photographer of the Year Prize 2009.' In 2011 Chris sat on the international Jury for the 2011 '12 inches of Sin' competition and juried exhibition sponsored by the Sin City Gallery, Las Vegas and organised by Dr Laura Henkel. The '12 inches of Sin' juried exhibitions/competitions were repeated each year, for 6 years, from 2012 through to 2017, again with Chris sitting on the selection committee. Given that he has been disabled since youth - Chris maintains an active role in the campaign to promote disability awareness and rights. Drawing inspiration from philosophy, film, music and disability politics; Chris believes that how we see ourselves, alongside our objectification by the camera, society and the state, takes the form of an existential challenge and his work is an exploration of this rationale. Whilst his work covers both social documentary and fine art, his methodology is consistent throughout. His images explore and play with the 'sense of distance', 'lack of access', the 'mundane banality of modern life'. The themes of a 'sense of distance' and 'lack of access' have become increasingly important to Christopher as his disability deteriorates. The reaction of 'others' to a visible impairment can often be hostile leaving one feeling an 'outsider' 'looking in' 'abject' and 'kept out'. The act of seeing and being seen are powerful weapons that, unless we each take steps to regain sovereignty, will be increasingly turned against each of us. For as S�ren Kierkegaard stated ""Once you label me, you negate me"""

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