Australian photographer and costume artist Gerwyn Davies hides himself in his art, concealing and reinventing a free, vibrant, and infinite universe.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GERWYN DAVIES TEXT BY IRMA TRAUM
While photographers typically use the medium to reveal, Australian artist, Gerwyn Davies, defines the opposite in his practice. He employs photography as a tool to conceal his physical self, assuming a completely different identity and reconstructing himself. Removing the face and eyes from a portrait allows the viewer to escape the control of imposed or learned cultural codes.
CONCEAL AND REIMAGINE
MEET THE ARTIST
Davies translates his relationship with the environment into his photographs using costumes he creates himself. He has been developing his craft in the same vein since his school years, solely executing his performance-focused art. In his works, he is the model, costume designer and recorder. He constructs the game, solely based on the feelings left by the spaces. He begins costume production directly out of the images he brings to his studio, from spaces that have left an impression on him, without any preparation. The artist focuses on contemporary self-representation in his works, drawing strength from subtle humour, vibrant colours interacting with the environment, different textures, architecture, and form. Davies’s relationship with reality evolves constantly throughout the series. Through the costumes he designs, the materials he uses, and the landscapes he chooses, he can explore the boundaries of representation. He draws inspiration from costume designs by Leigh Bowery, Alexander McQueen, Björk, Gareth Pugh, Viktor and Rolf, Ssion, Samuel, Phillip Galembo, and Samuel Fosso.