In the comments, etre asked about the Clayton Cubitt video: “This may seem inordinately curious, but I’ll ask anyway: both your outfit and veil-headgear are unusual, the latter perhaps more so – is there a story there?”
She’s referring to the long portrait I posted on my tumblr a few days ago, but I’ll repost it here:
Clayton Cubitt is an editorial and art photographer based here in New York (and a ludicrously talented one at that), and he’s been producing what he’s calling “long portraits,” video portraits running about five minutes in length. They work as a study of minute facial expressions, so when we talked about doing one, this obviously posed a problem. How do you create a portrait of someone you can’t really see?
To answer your question: the shirt is mine, by Calvin Tran. I like black, so it seemed appropriate. The mask is by Katie James, Clayton’s partner/lover/soulmate. She created the face mask herself, and she used another piece of fabric – a transparent top – to cover my face, and then brought the mask down over it. I wouldn’t say that there was a story behind it, and it was more of a masking decision than a conceptual one, but I like that it looks like I’m a widow in mourning. I think we all liked that. It’s appropriate, because there’ve been losses worth mourning, ties I’ve been forced to sever.
Here’s a beautiful long portrait he shot of the model Lambchop listening to a sad song:
For more on Clayton Cubitt, see his Vimeo channel here. And his portfolio here.
These long portraits remind me of the bizarre moments in david lynch works where the shot completely stops in its tracks and begs you to scream it forward.
You look half-widow, half-about to face a firing squad.
Your vid made me think of film noir femme fatales…
On my screen both shirt + headgear appear to be a midnight blue, which seemed an uncommon shade. Which in turn made me wonder about the extent of handmade-ness. I should have guessed at black – the lighting is rather blue.
Thanks. As Poirot says, “Now I know everything!” – or at least enough. I had hoped you would say that the shirt was by American Apparel, that way there was a chance it was going to be within my price range :)
I love the idea – when I watched the vid on the Tumblr blog, I was overcome by a feeling of unease and tension… I think h above puts it well – you want it to move on, but there is no it to move on, no narrative…
Also curious: does the kiss contrast to his other work in this series – in the sense that there is an ‘interruption’ to the portrait..?
That was amazing. It was not only visually intriguing but the emotions it pulled out of me were interesting as well.
At first I was rather indifferent but the strange noises in the background began to disturb. Your mask suddenly reminded me of the ghost in “Woman in Black” then I was struck by how it reminded me of the Guantanamo Bay photos. The partial exposure was even more upsetting. It was only after the kiss, you body took on more confidence, that I stopped being worried.
It was an amazing video art piece.
I was listening to Metrics “Help Me, I’m Alive” at the time. Which contributed to the weirdness.
It think these pieces are so wonderful and fresh. Especially yours.
Disconnected hit it on the nail. You want it to move forward, but it doesn’t. There is nothing to move forward to, and that is what makes it so attention grabbing. You want to see what “it” is, and there really isn’t an “it.”
Its interesting to see the reactions to it as well. I found it heartbreaking myself. It almost seems to reflect a longing for something that just, isn’t there. A longing for “it.” What ever “it” may be.
Outstanding.
(Also, I watched it a second time listening to Melponeme_k suggested Metric “Help Me, I’m Alive” one of my favorite tunes. Definitely see the creepy aspect of it as well)
you’re a young person. i believe that you can still repair severed ties if you truly wish to do so. don’t mourn if you would prefer to be happy: act.
Looks like my Neanderthal brain has its own priorities. I appreciate the artistic and intellectual intent behind a veiled portrait, but what really thrills me is to get a glimpse of how beautiful debauchette’s body is.
Hello D,
There is no / I didn’t find any forum/board on FGT, so thought I’d comment here.
The latest issue has both a Cohen quote and Hearts on Fire. Much appreciation of your online effort. Much much.
Hi, Congratulations to the site owner for this marvelous work you’ve done. It has lots of useful and interesting data.
Vimeo censored Momento 01/08/04 (Cubitt). Why use Vimeo if they are going to censor your work. Find a free expression medium.
It was funny and confusing. I loved it when you stopped being a statue in the first few seconds. Your breathing was most interesting.
Then the blinking, the twitches, the strangeness of your sitting there being watched and probably not being able to see so well with your eyelashes against the veil.
When you breathed with relief or Chi Gong or Yoga breath, here came the gentleman to make you sway drunkenly…
Hooray pretty nipple and your acquiescent kiss.
yes, and the aggressive, daring height of your torso after the kiss. thanks melponeme_k
What an incredibly beautiful and simple idea. Perfect portrait format for the modern age.
that was completely awesome. thanks.
-=- christopher
A lovely creation that sits between art and visual media. I have newly discovered your blog, as I am new to blogs in general. It is a world that I have never been interested in, and you and a few others have changed my mind. FGT is a gorgeous site, and well thought out, which, surprisingly, is an unusual phenomenon.
Ava
htt://eva2ava.wordpress.com