lucia fainzilber
lucia fainzilber
somewear
SOMEWEAR Somewear is a series of self-portraits, which struggles with the idea of identity. Setting my body in front of the camera has been a way of looking at myself in another way, trying to answer all those questions about who we really are. Society, family and the generation we live in, make this journey even harder. We camouflage as animals or even soldiers do in order to survive. It’s our way of being inside a system. It’s like a game: if it fits, your vision can be deceived creating almost an optical illusion. Is it possible to isolate our purest self from everything that surrounds us? Somewhere we can find these answers or not. Maybe the real answer is to learn how to live with this but not forgetting to look inside. Lucia Fainzilber, New York, 2014
Untitled 1 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 60 x 39 in
Untitled 2– Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 60 x 39 in
Untitled 4 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 45 x 30 in
Untitled 13 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 45 x 30 in
Untitled 17 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 45 x 30 in
Untitled 24 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 45 x 30 in
Untitled 25 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 45 x 30 in
Untitled 28 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 45 x 30 in
Untitled 30 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 36 x 24 in
Untitled 31 – Somewear Series (2014), edition of 7, inkjet print on archive paper, 36 x 24 in
WITH A NEW SERIES OF CAMOUFLAGE SELF-PORTRAITS, LUCIA FAINZILBER DOES ANYTHING BUT BLEND IN Argentinian photographer Lucia Fainzilber toys with notions of identity through optically illusive images. In her new exhibition “Somewear” at Praxis, Fainzilber took a series of self-portraits where she cloaked herself in camouflaging fabrics, making it difficult to differentiate between her body and similarly colored backgrounds. “Setting my body in front of the camera has been a way of looking myself in another way, trying to answer all those questions about who we really are,” Fainzilber says. “Society, family and the generation we live in, make this journey even harder…. Is it possible to isolate our more pure self to everything that it’s attached to us?” she asks. Inspired by memories of childhood and surrealistic painting, the artist creates hybrid images that are dreamlike and feminine (…) Fainzilber cleverly plays with color and pattern in her portraits, skillfully selecting contrasting yet camouflaging swatches of fabric and scenes from life; for example, she merges a wall of ivy with floral clothing, and scalloped black-and-white fabric with a chain link fence. In Untitled #2 (2014), the artist’s concealment is less obvious, as she stands against a clear blue sky wearing a royal blue blazer and white cap that mimic the serene setting, while also subtly referencing the paintings of René Magritte. Fainzilber has always had a keen interest in fashion, and dressed flamboyantly even as a child. Now the artist, who also works as a fashion photographer, uses her images to show the ways we use fashion to convey identity, and the way fabrics can simultaneously cover us and express who we are. Fainzilber recognizes that sometimes clothing completely hides our identity, and many of her portraits communicate this feeling, as her own identity is entirely concealed, and further obscured by the world around her. Sola Agustsson for Artsy, November 2014
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1986. Studied at The University of Buenos Aires fashion design (unfinished) and did Costume Making Design for Theatre workshops at Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. Art Direction in Filmmaking at The University of Cine in San Telmo, Buenos Aires. After graduating in 2008, worked as a colorist in postproduction, color-correcting movies in a Visual Mastering Studio before moving to New York to study at the International Center of Photography. After finishing The One-Year Certificate Program at ICP, assisted various fashion photographers based in NYC as well as doing her own editorial works for International magazines like Dossier and campaigns for international and local brands. Major exhibitions: “Moment of Recognition”, curated by Amy Arbus at Rita.K. Hillman Education Gallery at the International Center of Photography, New York, 2011.“My Truth, Your Truth”, curated by Alison Morley and Marina Berio at Rita.K. Hillman Education Gallery at the International Center of Photography, New York, 2012. Solo Exhibition “And Spring Again” at The Argentine Consulate in New York, 2014. Solo Exhibition “Somewear” at Praxis Gallery in New York, 2014. Group Show at Art Miami, Praxis Gallery, 2014. Group Show at LA Art Show, Art Miami NY, Art15 London and Art Southampton, Praxis Gallery, 2015. Solo Exhibition “Wild Flowers” at Praxis Gallery in New York, 2016.
NEW YORK Chelsea 541 West 25th Street New York, NY 10001 tel 212 772 9478 newyork@praxis-art.com BUENOS AIRES Arenales 1311 Buenos Aires C1061AAM Argentina tel 4812 6254 www.praxis-art.com tienda.praxis-art.com