On
Robert CHOURAQUI work
Probably France's most prolific glamour, fashion and fetish photographer,
Robert Chouraqui has dedicated years to capturing only the most gorgeous
of UK and European model babes on film and getting their images into
print around the world. Chouraqui has developed his own style of 'nude
portraits', as he calls them, preferring to focus on the intimacy of
faces rather than the anonymity of bodies. His personal tastes have
resulted in a mix of art nude and strange fashion photography which
makes his images unique and instantly recognisable. His work has appeared
in all the major magazines and in four of his own books. Few publications,
however, have treated his work with the respect afforded it between
the covers of his last published book; this slim, but this beautifilly
produced hardback from France. Perhaps this is because the publishers
have chosen to focus on a less familliar, and far more interesting side
of Chouraqui than his more known straight-down-the-line colour work.
In place of his familliar pouting pin-ups, this 88-page collection comprises,
for the most part grainy, arty, toned black and white shots of nudes,
either decorated in gorgeous metal body jewellery, rope or both. The
women's bodies are demonstrative, formal, magnified, subjugated. They
offer themselves to the watcher. Their faces extend the body's theatrical
purpose and miraculously blur this same body, so intense is their gaze.
The aesthetic presentation dramatises the images. Transfers from Polaroid
to art paper, toning in various colours, material backgrounds with crackled
or melted effects - all these serve to accentuate the moving presence
of the solitary faces, emphasizing them softly.
robertchouraqui@robertchouraqui.com
|