Wednesday, March 21, 2007
THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE
No lecherous intention here; merely borrowed the title from French artist Marcel Duchamp's painting, The Bride Sripped Bare By Her Bachelors.Linked with the rhythms of the Dada and Surrealism movements, this French artist became a major influence in anything avant-garde across Europe and America. And he came to mind when preparing my third submission for my Advance Photography Workshop -- Portrait of the Bride.
With the entire class using the same model (Carla,) and same backdrop (Fort Santiago), hunch suggested our submissions were bound to look alike. I, therefore, opted to present a more unusual image of the bride; avant-garde, if you will.
Also, with seventeen very talented classmates (some already semi-pros and doing weddings), I knew it would be futile to even think of my capping the much coveted top spot for this assignment. Better just explore my inner vision and have fun with it, thought I.
So what I did was select from the many pictures I had taken of Carla; a particular image that best reflects a concept of a glamor shot. Once found, I converted it to a more simplistic duotone so as to evoke the image of the old Hollywood glamourous era.
The photo of Carla above was the one I submitted; much to my delight, it placed fifth among the total of eighteen pictures submitted for this category.
The judges -- mostly faculty members of the University of the Philippines' Fine Arts Department -- by having given my effort a high ranking, consequently assured me that I am on the right track with my intended purpose in portraiture.
As I had already confided with Rhoda and Amadeo, one of my goals with photography is to someday search for fellow Pinoys who had gone through the quintessential rags to riches story; those despite impoverished and seemingly hopeless conditions, tenaciously persevered to rise above such dismal circumstances. I would like to take their portraits and write a short story about them.
I'm sure their stories, if publicized and shared, will inspire many others to develop a more positive and constructive way of thinking; hence, overcome their enslaving beliefs or self-defeating group mindset. I am among those who believe that the power of photography coupled with convincing prose can be used to inspire and empower.
This should also explain why I plan to attend Dominique James' glamour portraiture workshop this summer. My intention with it is to turn my subjects into glamorous stars that they really are for not succumbing to poverty; that through sheer determination and faith in their inner power, are now leading bountiful lives.
Poverty is a mental disease that can be corrected through empowered way of thinking. And my humble contribution to its eradication is by constantly providing my fellow Pinoys with stunning portraits and short stories of those who fought the battle of poverty and won.
Afterthought: this goal of mine was inspired by my mother’s friend who was widowed with eight young children. However, through perseverance and a positive way of thinking, her vegetable stall in a palengke flourished; enabling her to raise and send all her children to college.
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Labels: anti-poverty measure, Duchamp, glamour portraiture
posted by Señor Enrique at 6:43 AM
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