Alec Von Bargen
'Of playgrounds and carnivals and other vague recollections' (installation view)
Portraits in Contemporary Photography 2014
Selections from a Series: Veritas Feminae
Veritas Feminae is a series of photography-based, multimedia portraits of marginalized women. They are moments, instances, breaths. The truth the women share, their 'Veritas' is a whisper in my ear, a tug at my subconscious, the trace of an invisible caress... It is the love affair between the observer and the observed.
In presenting each of these portraits, I have consciously chosen, as with all of my work, to approach them not simply as literal reproductions of the subjects themselves but as my personal interpretations of the subject.
The real women in the portraits I have met in passing... with only one I have an ongoing relationship. With some I spoke while others will remain deeply rooted in eternal silence They are the isolated, the ridiculed and the abused. The misunderstood and the challenging... the strong and the warriors... the provocative and revolutionary... some by birth, others by fortune... some even by choice.
Using liberal comparisons with important historical, mythological, even political female figures, I've taken the imagery one step further by playing with parallels, giving each woman a stage (and the back-story of a historically famous woman) upon which their confessions may take flight. I was not interested in icons, but in pairing the real, marginalized women in the photos with truly extraordinary women from history who in my opinion had honest and profound tales to tell.
Selections from a Series: Veritas Feminae
Veritas Feminae is a series of photography-based, multimedia portraits of marginalized women. They are moments, instances, breaths. The truth the women share, their 'Veritas' is a whisper in my ear, a tug at my subconscious, the trace of an invisible caress... It is the love affair between the observer and the observed.
In presenting each of these portraits, I have consciously chosen, as with all of my work, to approach them not simply as literal reproductions of the subjects themselves but as my personal interpretations of the subject.
The real women in the portraits I have met in passing... with only one I have an ongoing relationship. With some I spoke while others will remain deeply rooted in eternal silence They are the isolated, the ridiculed and the abused. The misunderstood and the challenging... the strong and the warriors... the provocative and revolutionary... some by birth, others by fortune... some even by choice.
Using liberal comparisons with important historical, mythological, even political female figures, I've taken the imagery one step further by playing with parallels, giving each woman a stage (and the back-story of a historically famous woman) upon which their confessions may take flight. I was not interested in icons, but in pairing the real, marginalized women in the photos with truly extraordinary women from history who in my opinion had honest and profound tales to tell.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in New York City, Alec Von Bargen recently exhibited at the 54th Venice Biennale, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the OCT Museum in Shanghai, China and Les Rencontres D’Arles Festival, France. His work has won numerous awards including the IPA’s in LA and the PX3’s in Paris. He was a finalist at the 2013 Dubai Emerging Artist Award and Aesthetica Magazine, UK, selected him as one of their 2013 and 2014 top 100 Artists. He recently completed a six month project in China having been selected by François-Henri Pinault among others as guest artist at the Swatch Hotel, Shanghai.
Alec Von Bargen captures aesthetic instances resonating true with their historical, political and social contexts. He uses nothing but a small point and shoot camera to create his murals and installations. Although his research is meticulous he does not prep, pre-produce, light or arrange shoots. He works all over the world and the rests at home in Mayan jungle.
STATEMENT
Artist by profession, photographer by inspiration, playwright by 'obstinate', actor by dedication and world traveler by addiction. Born in New York, grew up in England and Mexico, German parents, 5 and 1/3 languages plus a healthy passion for all things Asia.
Carbon footprint's off the chart yet recycling is fundamental as are all things green.
Human rights are an obsession: live and let live.
Some use the term ‘Wanderlust’, others claim to be “In search of”, many are clearly running away from and quite a few are simply lost. I can’t relate to any of the above and yet I’m guilty of all four. I’m somewhat the consequence of a lifestyle-inherited… the by-product of a set of circumstances… all I know is that my life is one long journey and that I spend most nights dreaming on foreign bed sheets, conversing with fragrances of adopted pillowcases many.
Am I exhausted? At times. Do I complain? Almost always. Would I change it all? Never!
I’m not trying to create a reality, I simply document mine.
My images are my waking companions, my accomplices… my alibi. My work reveals the conversation I sustain with the world. It is immediate. I do not stage, light or prep. My subjects are the people, the places, the moments that share my journey… those emotions I meet along the way… I use nothing but a tiny, digital point-and-shoot camera.
I work all over the world but rest at home in the Mayan jungle near Akumal, Mexico.
Awards for Veritas Feminae :
Born in New York City, Alec Von Bargen recently exhibited at the 54th Venice Biennale, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the OCT Museum in Shanghai, China and Les Rencontres D’Arles Festival, France. His work has won numerous awards including the IPA’s in LA and the PX3’s in Paris. He was a finalist at the 2013 Dubai Emerging Artist Award and Aesthetica Magazine, UK, selected him as one of their 2013 and 2014 top 100 Artists. He recently completed a six month project in China having been selected by François-Henri Pinault among others as guest artist at the Swatch Hotel, Shanghai.
Alec Von Bargen captures aesthetic instances resonating true with their historical, political and social contexts. He uses nothing but a small point and shoot camera to create his murals and installations. Although his research is meticulous he does not prep, pre-produce, light or arrange shoots. He works all over the world and the rests at home in Mayan jungle.
STATEMENT
Artist by profession, photographer by inspiration, playwright by 'obstinate', actor by dedication and world traveler by addiction. Born in New York, grew up in England and Mexico, German parents, 5 and 1/3 languages plus a healthy passion for all things Asia.
Carbon footprint's off the chart yet recycling is fundamental as are all things green.
Human rights are an obsession: live and let live.
Some use the term ‘Wanderlust’, others claim to be “In search of”, many are clearly running away from and quite a few are simply lost. I can’t relate to any of the above and yet I’m guilty of all four. I’m somewhat the consequence of a lifestyle-inherited… the by-product of a set of circumstances… all I know is that my life is one long journey and that I spend most nights dreaming on foreign bed sheets, conversing with fragrances of adopted pillowcases many.
Am I exhausted? At times. Do I complain? Almost always. Would I change it all? Never!
I’m not trying to create a reality, I simply document mine.
My images are my waking companions, my accomplices… my alibi. My work reveals the conversation I sustain with the world. It is immediate. I do not stage, light or prep. My subjects are the people, the places, the moments that share my journey… those emotions I meet along the way… I use nothing but a tiny, digital point-and-shoot camera.
I work all over the world but rest at home in the Mayan jungle near Akumal, Mexico.
Awards for Veritas Feminae :
- Published in the book 'Veritas Feminae' - Edizioni NeuDesign - ISBN: 978-0-578-12860-3
- Finalist of the Aesthetica Award - York St. Mary's, UK. Published in Aesthetica's Special Edition 'Top 100 Contemporary Artists 2014' Magazine - April 2014
- Selected in competition at 'Now & After '14' Festival - The State Museum of Gulag - Moscow, Russia
- Highly Commended Winner - The London Photographic Association's Portraiture Award 2014 - London, UK
PURCHASING INFORMATION
Alec Von Bargen
'Of Playgrounds and Carnivals and Other Vague Recollection' 67" x 98" Edition 1 of 1 $21823.00 Please contact Drift Gallery at 603-379-6560 to inquire about availability.
|
|
