A VISUAL STUDY PETRA COLLINS
ABOUT PETRA
Petra Collins is a Canadian curator and artist. Photography, short films, and music videos are all amongst the mediums she works within, and a strong visual aesthetic of a dreamlike, feminine paradise runs clearly across all that she creates.
‘THE TEENAGE GAZE’ –PETRA COLLINS (2010-2015) ‘The Teenage Gaze’ is a photographic series compiled and created over 5 years. In each and every photo there are really strong visual themes of femininity, youth culture, and exploration. This photo series is one of Collins most known works, and provides a stream of inspiring content that is easily distinguished as ‘her style’.
The repeated high key lighting casting intentional shadows and providing dramatic colouration that reveals the underlying emotion of the image is something I find particularly interesting. It is through these lighting choices that a surreal and exaggerated reality is created- a more beautiful reality, with more colour, texture, warmth and coolness, all at once.
A narrative element that I enjoy is the idea that these young women are shown to be living a ‘normal’ teenage life, not simply partying, socialising, studying, but all of these things. The mundanity of daily tasks like showering, applying makeup, waiting, and sleeping, to name a few, are contrasted beautifully against scandalous acts of rebellion like smoking, drinking, going to parties, and kissing. Together these themes assemble a naturalistic, realistic view of teenage life, without exaggeration.
A further theme that I find to be most inspiring is the intimate and personal feel that the photographs hold. A series of close-ups as well as the shallow depth of field of the portrait images help to build this, in addition of course to the relaxed and open poses of the models, and the revealing nature of many of the shots- e.g. the underwear, nudity, and even the emotional nudity of the females crying, appearing miserable, bored, etc.
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE, AS INTERPRETED BY PETRA COLLINS (2016) Collins’ reimagining of the artistic works of Georgia O’ Keeffe takes the visual form of the short film. It was produced for the Tate gallery, as a part of their recent exhibit around the creations of the artist. The clip features audio from an interview with O’Keeffe, repeated and distorted over a backing track of nature sounds and many of the models repeating the phrase used: ‘They could tell me how they painted their landscapes, but they couldn’t tell me [how] to paint mine’, sometimes as a group in unison, other times stilted, and canon.
A visual aspect that must be noted is the filtered haze that is used over every frame of the video. This gives an almost confusing dream sequence feel, as well as transforming each setting and location into a muted pastel paradise of luxe textures contrasted against naturalistic elements like sand and water. Although even those elements have been altered ever so slightly to fall more in line with the aesthetic and colour palette, as said, through colourisation and filters applied, but also through choices made around props and backgrounds- pink sands, sunset orange skies, pure white flowers with accents of colour. As touched upon above, the ways in which the models are interacting with the settings they are placed in is something of real interest. The balance seems to shift from the women in control of and influencing the environments, to the environments inflicting on them, and even sometimes to the passivity of both the women, and the environment together. This idea of power or priority over an environment or setting is really quite fascinating.
Something that can be said of all of Collins’ work is that many typical motifs related to femininity are heavily featured. From chiffon frills, and glossy lips, to pink nails, glitter, and feather boas. And this particular piece furthers this idea with the aforementioned alterations and focus on the elements of the natural world that hugely link to women, in terms of media representation- flowers, pools of water, petals.
VOGUE ME (2017) As one of her more commercial works, Petra photographed a series of images for Vogue ME. This is a subsidiary of Vogue, with a Middle Eastern and Asian audience of millennials with an interest in fashion and youth/ pop culture. These images of course have her clear stamp on them, and are stylistically really inspiring the video that I am aiming to produce.
A styling choice made for this shoot that I think works beautifully is the makeup. The bold and almost Avant Garde shapes created in the eye makeup for example is striking, yet feminine and pretty in an array of pastel colours, accented by glitter, and gloss. And when teamed with the vintage patterns and textures of the clothing, props, and setting décor, this forms a stunning juxtaposition of themes and mood. Which is furthered by a repeat use of childlike props- ‘Care-bears’, puzzles, stuffed animals, (all retro in nature also), as contrasted against some very adult props- self help books, cocktails, and even modern clothing choices that appear childish yet still fashion forward and ‘young adult’- ill fitting, oversized t-shirt dresses, knee high boots and stocking, letter accent knitwear, gingham pinafores.
Another motif that is hugely engaging and unique is the coloured smoke that flows and accents the images. Billowing puffs of pastel paint powders provoke arty emotions and messages within each photograph. The idea of setting an image off with intentional otherwise absent feature is really innovative, and from what I have researched, is a trend amongst modern photography.
HOW WILL THESE WORKS INFLUENCE MY VIDEO? All of the elements discussed are so massively inspiring to me, I see these images and I feel the will to create and express. I am hugely aspiring for my video to have visual references to so many of these motifs and stylings, and I have the huge desire to ensure a similar feel across all of my promotional package. Specific examples of key elements I intend to utilise are‌ A hazy, soft focus effect. This I feel is a detrimental element in setting up a romantic and flattering look at the subject(s) you are filming. This also builds an older, more homemade effect to footage, as though it was filmed on a film camera of old style camcorder. High key lighting, particular to give a coloured filter to the shots in my music video, as well as perhaps sepia colouring in post to give an older look. Luxe, high texture, surrealist style props to give a really couture, high fashion feel that reflects upon recent A/W 17 trends within that industry. This is massively important for my video, and me as the song is from this year, and feels very current, the visuals should match. All styling choices will be hugely feminine, glittery, glossy, and polished, yet still display clear influences of catwalk and Avant Garde makeup looks. A personal and intimate feel. My aim is to create a video that feels like someone deeply in love with the actress has filmed it and cut it together. The difference is that I will follow many music video conventions, like match on action editing for example.