Rain (2011)
'My work is an ongoing enquiry into the possibilities of portraiture and its fine nuances. With each series, I aim to depict psychological states in everyday life using controlled conditions to search for some note of perfect balance in which the sense of an intimate humanity might be revealed.'
This series of photographs by Bettina Von
Zwehl, a German artist, explores our relation with water and, specifically that
of rain. Von Zwehl captured these images on a beach, using a black sheet as a
backdrop, and the rain is simulated with water being poured over the models.
The idea of this series of work is body transformation,
the rain affects us both physically, and mentally, how we present ourselves
when wet. The work is based on research to see how people react and how they stand for a portrait, when they are transformed by the rain that has just soaked them.
Each woman looks different, some with their eyes closed, some looking away from the camera, and some looking straight into it. Also the expressions, just in these 4 vary, from smiles to a very serious and stern look on her face. But each woman looks very calm and still, even if they are happy, or angry the fact they've had (probably cold) water poured over them.
I really liked this work as it shows how women want to be perceived. Even with water poured over them, none of the women look bad, or un prepared for a picture to be taken. This relates to make work with this idea, women will always want to look their best, whatever the situation. Even if someone says they don't mind how they appear, mentally they will try to look their best. Especially in from of a camera, when they know that these images will be seen by the public. I want to bring this idea to my next shoot, bringing in the themes from Martha Rosler's work in Semiotics of the Kitchen.
