Artist's Statement
Tableau vivant translates idiomatically to "living picture" (plural = tableaux vivants). It is an art form (and form of popular entertainment), rising to prominence especially in the late-19th and early-20th century, that essentially merged techniques of the stage with those of painting and early photography. In tableaux vivants, a group of models would pose together, elaborately costumed and / or nude, most often recreating famous, canonical paintings and sculpture but also scenes from history, myth, and allegory.
When I took up photography of the human form, the tradition of the tableau vivant inspired me. In my initial explorations of the genre and as I refined my abilities to meet its unique challenges, I often sought to likewise interpret classic figurative works of of non-photographic art, much as historical tableaux vivants did. Much like the popular audiences that consumed and appreciated the art form in its heyday, I was thrilled to see timeless art channeled through a living, breathing human being -- all before my eyes. And in terms of the artistic process, I was empowered by the ability to use light and my lens to capture a version of the tableau that I had assembled in my mind's eye.
As I developed as a photographer, I began to explore beyond a strict photographic interpretation of the tableau vivant tradition. Rather than paying homage to famous works, I began create my own tableaux that originated from my own imagination, as well as departing from the tradition altogether. Perennially central to my vision, however, were the goals I strove toward in my first experiments -- to make my photographs "live" in the manner of the tableau vivant, despite their static nature.
I achieve this through a number prerogatives . Primary among them is technical skill in lighting, which allows me to capture and share the features unique to every model in an attempt to bring the viewer into that moment and appreciate him or her, as if there. Equally important, and perhaps even more so, is a commitment to the techniques traditional photography (despite the convenience of digital) and a firm rejection of over-dependence on editing software. I eschew the "shopped" look, and my work displays the model as gloriously imperfect -- real and always beautiful. And lastly, I work hard to craft concepts that excite, inspire, and challenge all collaborators, such that the moments I capture in images are marked by an intensity that gives the work a life of its own.
I am likewise inspired by masters and innovators of photography, which instructed and shaped my use of the figure as a medium. The work of Judy Dater and Jack Welpott (in particular, their collaborative work Women and Other Visions) first introduced me to the power that the human form could evoke and sparked my interest in the genre at a very early age. Dater's and Welpott's soulful and emotive nude portraits of women communicated so much of the models' characters, specifically via their nakedness (yet unabashed and open miens) and intense eye contact with the camera and thus the viewer. These women were alive to me, much like as a participant in a tableau vivant. Women and Other Visions was the catalyst that introduced me to my calling.
I am also guided by the figure studies of Edward Weston and Ruth Bernhard, whose technical and aesthetic excellence stand as the benchmark I aspire to. Similarly, the Harry Callahan's portraits of Eleanor edified my conception of the artist / muse relationship and exemplify what can be be achieved through artistic collaboration. Thematically, my horizons were expanded by Diane Arbus's work with unconventional subjects and situations that showed me how the nude can powerfully work to unsettle and move the viewer. Likewise, and to a greater extent, the grotesques of Joel-Peter Witkin showed me how the human form and the tradition of the tableau vivant could be wedded with the bizarre and horrific to challenge the paradigms of art itself.
I hope you enjoy my artwork just as much as I did creating it. If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact me.