Honorable Mention
Still Life
DESCRIPTION
This image is part of a photo series which discusses censorship. For the full series please visit: https://www.matigelman.com/stilllifeCensorship has always existed. There have always been forces acting to suppress, silence, and stifle voices and ideas deemed dangerous, particularly in art.
Throughout history, human sexuality has been heavily censored, particularly by religion, as a means of control. Even in the internet picture language, emoji, there are no symbols that directly relate to human sexuality or sex organs, despite the fact that there are plenty of emoji relating to babies and pregnancy.
The lack of these symbols forced its users to repurpose preexisting emoji, mostly fruits and vegetables, to be able to discuss sex and sexuality in this new language, in the same way that artists have done for centuries; through the delicate, intricate, and suggestive usage of symbols.
This series highlights our collective pressure to depict and discuss these themes covertly; finding subversive ways to explore our eroticism while adhering to imposed guidelines.
AUTHOR
Gelman, born in Hungary and raised in Israel, relocated to New York City in 2016, wherehe continued his education in photography at ICP and the Pratt Institute. Originally a biochemist, he left science to pursue art- a language that allows him to navigate between the real and surreal.
The young artist fuses photography and digital painting, using image manipulation techniques to create unique dark and whimsical imagery. His technique enables visuals, previously only in his mind, to come together through dynamic postures and dark colors. Gelman aspires to tell an entire story with a single image.
