French photographer Philippe Shangti has a unique aesthetic that utilizes three elements; alcohol, drugs and the over sexualization of women.
Philippe Shangti, who resides in Saint Tropez, has photographed models in a way that mocks pop culture today. The models in his photo series are seen, posing with less-than-innocent items such as cocaine, naughty toys and rolled up money. The series, which showcases pieces called 'Sexual intentions,' 'No Cocaine' and 'Paris Hilton,' is extremely sexual.
The series also features bondage to hide nudity with film strips, ribbons and neon-colored straws. Additionally, items that are seemingly innocent, such as rubber duckies and Barbie dolls, are given a more sensual meaning. Philippe Shangti also had written on the models words such as 'No Cocaine Here' and 'Neverland,' which related to the message he wished to express in his photography.
Philippe Shangti is one artist that clearly is not scared to mock what pop culture has become in society today.
Image Credit: Philippe Shangti
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Sensual Provocation
- The use of drugs, sexual overtones, and taboo objects to invoke and push the boundaries of sexual provocation through photography.
- Satirical Pop Culture
- The use of satirical and alternative methods to mock pop culture's obsession with taboo objects and sexual overtones, often through use of photography.
- Alternative Methods
- The use of alternative methods to express creative vision, often challenging traditional artistic practices and boundaries.
Where This Applies
- Photography and Fine Art
- The photography and fine art industries have an opportunity to employ alternative, provocative photography as a mode of creative expression that challenges societal boundaries and norms.
- Advertising and Marketing
- The advertising and marketing industries can take advantage of provocative photography to create attention-grabbing campaigns, although care must be taken to maintain ethical standards.
- Fashion and Beauty
- The fashion and beauty industry can use provocative photography as a means of challenging perceived notions of beauty and reflecting society's changing cultural rhetoric, encouraging self-expression.
