Sam Samore creates fascinating large scale conceptual photographs. Appropriative practices, which are established by artists such as Cindy Sherman, are a key element in his works. His photos are an exploration of privacy and myth in contemporary society.

Britany Salsbury (Artforum) about his work:
Samore’s photographs are characterized by open-ended and evocative narrative compositions that are reminiscent of film stills. Through the contrast between the straightforwardness of their artifice and the impossibility of explaining the situations they portray, Samore’s photographs reveal a fragmented and constructed subject that invites interrogation of gender, popular culture, and identity.

Britany Salsbury gives a clear analyse of Sam Samore’s work in the following quote: “The Dark Suspicion#1 (See top photo), for instance, shows a young woman whose vacant stare and decorated femininity (heavy makeup, etc.) make her resemble the subject of a fashion advertisement. The model is only visible, however, through a gap between two other figures, whose showy lipstick and starkly pale skin seem virtually identical to her own. Although it would be easiest to rationalize the two doppelgangers as mirror reflections of the female figure, such a reading is impossible, given their position in the photograph: between the woman and the viewer. This manipulation of space eschews predictable or concrete explanation and frustrates the viewer’s impulse to impose purpose or narrative on figures whose functions might have otherwise seemed clear.”

In the above video by Kiki Allgeier , Sam Samore explains some more about his works. Samore’s role within LM100 (Le Meridien) was to help identify and chronicle the narratives inherent in the guest experience, from his contributions to the stories included in Le Méridien’s 50 Words story collection to his role as an artist behind a series of keys in the Unlock Art collection.

 Photos from top to bottom:
The Dark Suspicion #1, 2011
Allegories of Beauty (Incomplete) #108, #44, #63, 1990s
The Dark Suspicion #5, 2011
Allegories of Beauty (Incomplete) #47, #10, #50, #8,1990s

Photos by: Sam Samore | Video by: Kiki Allgeier | Source: Britany Salsbury |

You might like these articles:

• Claudia Rogge | individualism, reproducibility and mass
• Sacha Goldberger | So’Chic | 70 years series
• Climb | High heels in the snow

Henri Louis Bergson was a major French philosopher, influential especially in the first half of the 20th century. Bergson convinced many thinkers that immediate experience and intuition are more significant than rationalism and science for understanding reality. He was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature “in recognition of his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with which they have been presented.

You might like these articles:

• Fashion quote | Epictetus on identity, look and dressing up
• David Hume on Beauty
• Fashion quote | James Laver on conceptual layers and clothes

Epictetus was a Greek philosopher. The Philosophy, he taught, is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals, however, are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. As part of the universal city that is the universe, human beings have a duty to care for all fellow humans. The person who followed these precepts would achieve happiness and peace of mind according to Epictetus.

You might like these articles:

• Henri Bergson on sex appeal
• Katharine Hepburn on wearing fashion and clothes
• David Hume on Beauty

French photographer Sacha Goldberger has shot a fascinating series where he features his grandmother Mamika next to the younger model Therese. In this series he tries to capture the concept of the development in time and the evolution of personality of the same person in a time span of 70 years. The series touches topics and concepts like the energy of youth, ageless beauty, style, identity, experience and maturity of life.

Photos: Sacha Goldberger | Sacha Goldberger website

You might like these articles:

• Claudia Rogge | individualism, reproducibility and mass
• The many faces of Nienke Klunder
• Gabriel Michel | Milky way

Nienke Klunder is a Netherlands based artist who works mainly in sequences and series, she often uses self-portraiture to explore themes of identity and transformation. One striking example of her work is her ” The Community” project. In this portrait series she explores the female quest for identity and self expression. The work does strongly remind us of the conceptual portraits by Cindy Sherman. Nienke klunder uses, just like Cindy Sherman, herself as model. In her photographic series she shows that every aspect of our daily choices in hair, make up, clothing and styling does add a layer of recognition from society of the character we are, would like or believe ourselves to be.

Photos by Nienke Klunder | Nienke Klunder website

You might like these articles:

• Claudia Rogge | individualism, reproducibility and mass
• Sacha Goldberger | So’Chic | 70 years series
• Vangelis Paterakis | Shadow life

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer and film maker who is known for her conceptual self portraits. Her works can rely on shock, surprise but also beauty. Depending on what era her works have focused on. As a female artist, Sherman addressed the issue of physical gender expectations and identity formation.

Sherman’s earlier work has toyed with and skewered feminine mystique.  In her seminal Untitled Film Stills and other conceptual female portraits, she cast herself in most pictures, adopting various roles in the photographs that both exploit and comment on the male gaze, as well as create a running narrative about female identity.

Her latest works seem to be representative of Sherman looking forward in time. Sherman seems to be focusing on a period of transition and uncertainty in the lives of Western womanhood.  The time of sexual attraction and procreation is seemingly over for these women. These society women are approaching a time when their previously engaged and active lives begin to slow down.  The slight satirical appearances of the women hint at a vulnerability and a despair in the not too distant future, despite the many attempts at proud stances by these women.  Rather than these pictures being a reflection of how men view women, these are strictly Sherman’s eyes we are seeing through this time.

The second remarkable fact about this latest series is that they are basically larger then life. Not only the physical photo dimensions  are over-sized but also the make up Sherman uses to assume each specific identity and role for the photographs has been purposefully over done, the clothing worn in each photo helps tell a story, and the poses range from icy cold to slightly demented. There’s women in ball gowns alone in their own living rooms.  Women who are trying very hard to look good for the camera.

Photos: Cindy Sherman | Conceptual portaits

You might like these articles:

• Sacha Goldberger | So’Chic | 70 years series
• Climb | High heels in the snow
• The many faces of Nienke Klunder