The liveness of the event is as important to me as the photographic images that are made – the audience become the art.
I had a large space at Act Art and the experimentalism and vibrancy of the whole event really suited my ambitions for the DARKROOM allowing me to push both mine and other people's boundaries…
Participants looked like illuminated sculptures or statues as I set to work on painting them with my light sources. During the 2 hours there was an audience that fluctuated between about 10 and 40 onlookers as well as the people taking part, making the atmosphere lively and exciting as members from the crowd edged forward for their 5 minutes or so of attention. When the lights went down to pitch blackness the rowdiness of the audience subsided as they watched images of naked and semi naked bodies appear and disappear under my spells of light.
"I Felt it Was a Liberating Experience.
I LOVE the Colour of The Image-Such a Cold Blue-which matches My Mood” (David)
“I enjoyed watching you trace the people with the light - how very precise your movements seemed and how sure of what you were doing, and yet abstract enough that you were seen to be pausing and thinking in the way that a painter pauses with brush in hand. A very interesting experience.”
“For me, I loved the entire experience. It felt very sensual - very erotically charged even though all I removed was my top.”
“As I posed there, moving as you asked me to, holding the pose, I could hear the audience members talking about me or discussing the look of the piece we were creating. It was very intense - I could feel everyone watching not only my body and form, but what you were doing to me. As I said, it felt very very sensual and yet fun, rather than being too overtly sexual. It is a highly erotic experience though - having a pretty girl nigh on stroking your body with light.” (Martin)
It was hard not to giggle when I was posing for the photo, but you were great. I was so impressed by how patient you were. It was perfect for putting everyone at ease (not that most of them needed it!)” (Hugo)
