rrapED around

Disclosures: A photographic Construct 1982, Found in: Julie Rrap Body Double by Victoria Lynn

My Mom brought me this awesome book full of work by Julie Rrap from a trip to Sydney, Australia.  I hadn't ever heard of this photographer and mixed media artist, but she's got some really neat work.  I think this piece in particular is striking because it is uninhibited, has a narrative quality, and displays wise use of repetition and color.  Rrap executes a visual representation of the process of disclosure which is simple and elegant.   Her "exposure," if you will, initially reveals her head and left arm, followed by the rest of her upper body, and so on.  The black and white areas almost start to appear as misrepresenting the woman, as we follow the images like text, from left to right.  This is likely because most of us see in color and therefore perceive it as more true.

I especially like that artist included the tears in the paper on the black and white images.  This clearly defines the separation between the photos and also articulates the layering of the images. This brings the image of unwrapping a gift into my head, which is something I believe many people understand to be a metaphor for revealing of one's body.  Most photographers consider a print the final outcome of their work - I like that Julie Rrap has done something unique and hands on with the medium.

In regards to visual composition, I appreciate that the artist used a slightly different photo in each frame.  It is not immediately obvious, but may be contain enough variation to stimulate initial interest.  She is posing in front of a beige wall that is close to the color of her skin and her hair creates the most contrast within the image.  I wonder how a black background would change this series.