Bourdin Unseen

If I’m honest, I’m only a semi Guy Bourdin fan.  The rich colours that all the images seem to be immersed in grab me everytime.  The ambiguity of his photographs is alluring.  However, the subject matter at times seems too purposeful in its shock factor and the objectification of women in some shots aren’t always to my taste.      Nonetheless, when there’s a Guy Bourdin ‘Unseen’ exhibition on right now, that is a stone’s throw away from my office, there’s no reason NOT to go.  Even for a semi-fan.  As expected of a semi-fan, I was in love 50% of the exhibition and something put me off the other 50%.  But it is a comprehensive body of work that demonstrates the best of Bourdin. 

I’ve never seen flowers look like they’re viciously attacking a woman but there lies the strength of Bourdin’s way of warping his subjects

The New York-based gallery and auction house Phillips de Pury & Company is responsible for this exhibiton of 41 images, from Bourdin’s personal archives.  The exhibition is also in conjunction with a first-time auction of Bourtin’s work.  For those who are Richie Rich, all work on view is available for sale in a large 44 x 44 inches sized print and a smaller 24 x 35 inches print.  For the people who want to take a free gander, the exhibition is at Victoria House in Bloomsbury (incidentally, it was last season’s Topshop show venue during London Fashion Week so it was odd to see the space so eerily quiet when it was heaving with people last time I was there), and it’s on until the 24th November.

I love the way the model is juxtaposed with the black and white photograph here

Bourdin’s work sometimes has this very heavy tone of silence, especially in this football pitch field shot with the model sleeping amongst the grass: