His pictures are highly stylised, using hyper-realistic digital imaging techniques to create an almost cinematic feel, whilst displaying a clear influence from diverse art movements such as the Renaissance and Pop Art. His subjects are carefully 'staged' to appear unaware of the viewer, as if captured in the moment of an unfolding drama. The viewer is left to create the story from the visual clues, as little is revealed by facial expressions. The exhibition literature describes the subjects as 'stauesque, lonesome, clinical, yet seductive'.
At first viewing I felt quite detached from the images, the lack of expression making it difficult to connect. Instead I found myself focusing on the digital editing aspect, wondering what manipulation had been made. However, on a second viewing I found myself drawn into the narrative, creating scenarios for each image, using elements from the picture to interpret the scene. My favourite image (above) features a boy reading a book illustrated with mathematical formulae, reflected in the wallpaper pattern and whose shirt pattern matched his freckles!
I found Albrow's work challenging but interesting and a very different approach to portraiture. Interestingly, many people were trying to read much significance into the food and scenes in which Albrow placed each sitter, however at the artist's talk he suggested there was no great 'narrative' or meaning, just that these were things his subjects liked.
No comments:
Post a Comment