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In Untitled at Anna Pappas Gallery, Melbourne based photographer Danny Cohen presents a new body of work that is both absurd and enticing.
This series of work are adaptations of illustrations drawn by Cohen’s friend Jacob Rolf, who created the sketches as part of a self initiated project to produce a new nude drawing every day. To add a degree of difficulty to the task Rolf intentionally drew simplistic figures so that each day it would become progressively harder to draw an original image. What transpired are quirky and unusual images; composites of human body parts with nonsensical sets, animals, plants and everyday objects.
Cohen’s attraction to Rolf’s fantastical illustrations led him to a photographic project that saw the drawings, with a strong MS Paint aesthetic, morph into sumptuous images of muted tones and soft focus, reminiscent of renaissance style paintings. Cohen’s attention to detail; personally sourcing each individual element and photographing it in his studio, painting his models head to toe to achieve the desired painterly quality and working closely with a professional retoucher to assemble the disparate elements, is instrumental to the cohesion and credence of these images.
Cohens unique approach began early on whilst studying at RMIT. Frustrated by his peer’s mimicry of iconic photographer’s works, their lack of imagination and minimal enthusiasm for utilising the vast variety of resources available to them, Cohen set out to produce images that were technically challenging and visually shocking. This new series of work is a step towards a more mature mindset where the imagery is bold and confronting, but not grotesque.
Danny Cohen (b.1987) completed a Bachelor of Photography at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). He has been a finalist in numerous awards including the International Color Awards (2013) and 25 and Under - Arte Laguna Prize (2013), shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards Open (2013), won the Adobe Best Use of Digital Media - Kodak Salon (2012), and has been well received at Prix de la Photographie Paris being awarded an Honorable Mention (2012), Silver in Portraiture and Bronze in Fine Art (2011). Cohen currently lives and works in Melbourne. This is Danny Cohens first solo exhibition at Anna Pappas Gallery.
Anna Pappas Gallery (2-4 Cartlon Street, Prahran 3181, Melbourne, Victoria)
