Bodies: The Use of Photography with the Human Body in Relation to Nature and Health
- Laura Marsh
- Mar 4, 2021
- 4 min read
Alicja Brodowicz: Visual Exercises, A Series of Diptychs, 2008
“In nature nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, they’re still beautiful” (Brodowicz, 2021)
Alicja Brodowicz is a practitioner who has created a series of images tiled, ‘Visual Exercise’, which is a series of diptychs showing the similarities between human body and natural structures, exploring the relationship between the two. These images are detailed and striking in black and white, I can image that the impact and the meaning would come across differently if they were in colour, as the similarities may not be as obvious, but it would be interesting to see if that would be the case.
One of the strongest images for me is the leaf and hair image, you can clearly see the relationship and observation of the structures between the two, both tightly cropped with the centre parting down the centre of the image, almost dividing it in two.
Brodowicz explains on her website, that she is observing nature and the body by looking for structures such as line, shapes and compositions and displaying them as diptychs is the best way, she can portray the idea that we are inter-related to nature. I personally feel this concept works, the layout of the images and their relationship to each other work perfectly, with details and cropping choices made to make the viewer focus on the specific area of both subjects.
The is a link to the subject of the ‘gaze’ which was covered in a previous post. In Brodowicz’s images, because the model is anonymous, you cannot see their face or know their name, to me the ‘gaze’ becomes muted in the sense that you are not look looking at the full body, therefore does this make it easier to look at, or okay to look at? These models are not sexualised and there is not a strong sense of voyeurism, although you are still looking at a section of a body. The tight crop of the images could relate to the idea of peeking or looking through something, that which is sometimes associated with being voyeuristic.
The second image of the thorns and spine was the first image I discovered of Brodowicz’s work. Its visual connection to what I am exploring stood out to me, the idea of referencing the spine within my work. What I felt from looking at this image, before I read into the project, was the relationship between thorns and pain, specifically sharp pain within the spine. The visual of the spine and thorn related to me in regarding my own experience of sharp, sudden nerve pain, which you could relate to being pricked by a thorn. For me this encapsulates that connection Brodowicz was aiming for.
She explains in an article for PetaPixel with Micheal Zhang in 2018, “By combining images of the human body and elements of nature I am trying to show that we are inter-connected and that our separate existence is impossible” (Brodowicz in Zhang, 2018)
I am still unsure if my project will lead to using my own body within my work, as I have discussed before, but Brodowicz work gives me ideas of what I could do and ho I could approach this idea if I decided to explore this avenue.
Liz Orton:
I have already discussed Liz Orton’s work in a previous post, but I discovered this image from Chasing Intensities, Every Body Is An Archive, 2014-2018. Its design and content drew me to it as it reminded me of our recent subject voyeurism, the naked back of a women and her posture and position gave a sense that we were looking at a vulnerable and private moment, in case representing medical procedures and imaging. Orton’s work does hint at the subject of voyeurism and I feel this image is a good example. There is an overlay with an x-ray image of a pelvis, laying horizontal over the portrait format of the image, linking the procedure or a procedure to the individual. It reminded me of my leaf in oily water image and how to me, it resembled a Sarum or pelvis. In that fact, this image struck a chord with me and I find it fascinating to look at, reminding me of my experience and what is going on underneath my skin, as well as how I felt seeing my own x-rays in relation to what I can see on the surface.
Man Ray
The idea of using myself within my work is something I have thought of briefly, but I have not explored yet. The idea was also raised in a webinar by one of my peers and it is something I may explore going forward. Although there is a confidence element to this, being my own personal confidence in showing my body. Linking to this weeks topic, I feel uneasy of images of my own body on display and the 'gaze' that would upon my body.
Man Ray's 1924 image 'Kiki Ingres' Violin', is one that came to mind when thinking of this idea and it’s resemblance to the previous image by Liz Orton, the back of the figure, with the area on view as the focus of the viewer.
References:
Books:
Reinhold Misselbeck, and Museum Ludwig (Köln. 20th Century Photography : Museum Ludwig Cologne. Köln Etc., Taschen, Cop, 2001, pp. 124–125.
Websites:
Brodowicz, Alicja. “Alicja Brodowicz | Photo.” Alicjabrodowicz.com, 2021, alicjabrodowicz.com/. Accessed 26 Feb. 2021.
Zhang, Micheal. “Photos That Show Similarities between the Human Body and Nature.” Petapixel.com, 18 July 2018, petapixel.com/2018/07/18/photos-that-show-similarities-between-the-human-body-and-nature/. Accessed 26 Feb. 2021.
Images:
Brodowicz, A., 2019. Conceptual 1st Place Winner, 121clicks Competition. [image] Available at: <https://121clicks.com/inspirations/minimalist-photographer-2019-winners> [Accessed 25 February 2021].
Brodowicz, A., 2018. Visual Exercises. A Series of Diptychs. [image] Available at: <http://alicjabrodowicz.com/> [Accessed 25 February 2021].
Brodowicz, A., 2018. Visual Exercises. A Series of Diptychs. [image] Available at: <http://alicjabrodowicz.com/> [Accessed 25 February 2021].
Orton, Liz. “Chasing Intensities,” Liz Orton, www.lizorton.co.uk/photography/chasing-intensities/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.
Ray, Man. Hunger TV, www.hungertv.com/feature/surreal-dreaming-with-iconic-artist-man-ray/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.
Figures:
Fig 1: Alicja Brodowicz, 2018, Visual Exercises. A Series of Diptychs
Fig 2: Alicja Brodowicz, 2019, Conceptual 1st Place Winner, 121clicks Competition
Fig 3: Alicja Brodowicz, 2018, Visual Exercises. A Series of Diptychs
Fig 4: Liz Orton, 2014-2018, Chasing Intensities, from Every Body Is An Archive
Fig 5: Fig 5: Laura Marsh, 2021, Fragile
Fig 6: Man Ray, 1924, Kiki Ingres' Violin
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