2 minute read

Artist Feature: Grant Johnson

This digital photo series was submitted by Grant Johnson for Impulse and explores the dichotomy between the art of dress—both in adornment and physical clothing.

Advertisement

GJ: These photos stem from a larger series where I am trying to blend fashion photography with landscape shots and self-portraiture. I decided to use masks as an element within these photos to shift focus from the model, to the clothing and the human form, as opposed to drawing focus on the face. The ambiguous, uneasy feeling the masks gave these photos was an element I was aware of, and I was hoping to take advantage the tone through their usage. I somewhat enjoy making people feel uneasy, or even kind of scared, with photos like these—I take pleasure in exploring the deep fascination people seem to have in the dark, mysterious, and unknown. I used a variety of different spaces, outfits, masks, and poses to make every shot as varied as possible, much like how my own (and many other's) clothing tastes, emotions, thoughts, and experiences can vary. This series is very personal, but distanced at the same time, under the guise of a pseudonymous type of presentation. I think this is often how people like to present themselves in social contexts in present day; trying to hold onto the shreds of a perceived anonymity that can no longer exist in the modern world.

...trying to hold onto the shreds of a perceived anonymity that can no longer exist in the modern world.

This article is from: