As disturbing as the disembodied portraits featured throughout the series The Busts by Frieke Janssens are, they are visually mesmerizing. Dramatically shot in what appears to be a dark attic, the enhanced light from the sole window casts moody shadows across each face. This is appropriate considering that the portraits are of actors from the Belgium theatre company Toneelhuis.
Harking back to Hollywood portraits of the Golden Age, The Busts by Frieke Janssens puts a modern spin on it thanks to the magic of Photoshop. According to Karen Chin, "The stylized busts placed in a setting inspired the attic space of the Bourla theater were Frieke's way to give viewers something to look at and dream about, rather than capture a straight reportage moment of a performance, or the standard black and white theater headshot."
Real-Life Sculpture Portraits
The Busts by Frieke Janssens is Disturbingly Disembodied
Trend Themes
1. Disembodied Portraits - There is potential for disruptive innovation in the field of photography by exploring new ways to create and present disembodied portraits.
2. Enhanced Lighting Techniques - Innovations in lighting technology can revolutionize the way artists capture and manipulate light to create mood and shadows in photography.
3. Modernizing Classic Art Forms - By incorporating modern techniques and tools like Photoshop, traditional art forms such as portrait sculptures can be given a contemporary and visually mesmerizing twist.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - The photography industry can explore disruptive innovations in techniques and technologies to create unique and visually captivating portraits.
2. Lighting Technology - The lighting technology industry has the opportunity to develop cutting-edge lighting solutions that enhance the artistic possibilities in photography.
3. Art and Sculpture - By blending traditional art forms with modern digital tools, the art and sculpture industry can create provocative and visually enticing pieces that appeal to contemporary audiences.