Alex Van Gelder’s Carcass Photography is Haunting and Grotesque
Farida Helmy — February 19, 2014 — Art & Design
References: alexvangelder & beautifuldecay
Meat enthusiast or not, this disturbing and grotesque Meat Portraits series will have you gagging and feeling guilty about that steak you had last weekend.
Alex Van Gelder’s Meat Portraits photography series is so raw and realistic you can almost smell the rotting flesh and the decayed skin. The photographer modeled these photographs after seeing these scenes of carcasses, flesh, entrails, organs and other animal parts in Benin's marketplace.
“African butchers don’t use electric saws as Europeans do but cut up the meat by hand which produces a variety of styles.The slaughterhouse was in the open air and in front of it a small market where they would sell the still warm meat. I consider these portraits still lives,” says Van Gelder.
Using his nauseating portraits to stir a feeling of savageness, Van Gelder's photographs are not protesting for animal rights and a vegetarian lifestyle, they're simply about how the camera can catch the most emotional of things.
Alex Van Gelder’s Meat Portraits photography series is so raw and realistic you can almost smell the rotting flesh and the decayed skin. The photographer modeled these photographs after seeing these scenes of carcasses, flesh, entrails, organs and other animal parts in Benin's marketplace.
“African butchers don’t use electric saws as Europeans do but cut up the meat by hand which produces a variety of styles.The slaughterhouse was in the open air and in front of it a small market where they would sell the still warm meat. I consider these portraits still lives,” says Van Gelder.
Using his nauseating portraits to stir a feeling of savageness, Van Gelder's photographs are not protesting for animal rights and a vegetarian lifestyle, they're simply about how the camera can catch the most emotional of things.
Trend Themes
1. Raw Meat Photography - Opportunity for photographers to create disturbing and realistic portraits that evoke strong emotions.
2. Meat Industry Aesthetics - Potential for artists and designers to incorporate elements of raw meat and carcasses into their work for provocative and thought-provoking visuals.
3. Guilt-inducing Art - Opportunity to create art that challenges viewers and forces them to confront uncomfortable feelings and actions regarding meat consumption.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - Innovative photographers can explore unconventional subject matter and techniques, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
2. Art and Design - Artists and designers can utilize unconventional materials and themes to create thought-provoking works that challenge societal norms and provoke discussion.
3. Food and Hospitality - Restaurants and food establishments can incorporate edgy and provocative imagery and concepts into their branding and marketing to attract a niche audience and generate buzz.
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