image courtesy of ICP
I’ve noticed I’ve been using the word ‘beauty’ a lot in my headings lately (in case you’re wondering what we’re about on ‘beautycall’, a site for all things ‘beauty.’) Anyhow, we’re on an art kick today. 3 exhibits. 3 different perspectives on – what else? Beauty.
The International Center of Photography currently features 2 exhibits of interest: Weird Beauty & Edward Steichen: In High Fashion The Conde Nast Years 1923-1937. Weird Beauty presents the most innovative fashion photography of the last few years influenced by art, sexuality, narrative, digital media and youth culture. According to the ICP website, the exhibit considers “the impact of graphic design on the way that fashion photography is presented. Along with original photographic prints, the exhibition will feature hundreds of tear sheets and magazine covers from both mainstream and independent publications, by a range of photographers, including Steven Meisel, Cindy Sherman, Mario Sorrenti, Nick Knight, Steven Klein, Miles Aldridge, Paolo Roversi and Solve Sundsbo.” It’s glam, it’s sexy, it’s weird. (closes May 3)
image courtesy of ICP
Edward Steichen: In High Fashion The Conde Nast Years 1923-1937, features 175 celebrity and fashion images by Edward Steichen, the former chief photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair. Steichen’s crisp, detailed, modernist style revolutionized fashion photography and was influential in changing the presentation of the American woman from that of a “distant, romantic creature to that of a more direct, appealing, independent figure.” Yeah! (closes May 3)
image courtesy of Apexart.org
Take a break from all the polished, finished fantasy of the ICP and head downtown to ApexArt to experience real beauty at its realest -where the living human body is the canvas and the operating room, the studio. I am Art – An Expression of the Visual & Artistic Process of Plastic Surgery was curated by plastic surgeon, Dr. Anthony C. Berlet who also has training as an architect, experience as a medical illustrator and a busy practice in northern New Jersey. He features his work alongside the work of 3 other plastic surgeons – the before and afters but also images during the surgery of people being augmented or reduced, slightly altered or completely transformed. It’s disturbing and ugly, blood guts and all. This is reality. It’s living art. (closes May 9)
To which I can’t help but ask the cliched old question: Who defines beauty? What is perfection? And to what degree is perfection another person’s distortion?
Check it out.
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