above: detail of Paul Graves' balloon beauty
The last time I showed the balloon series photography of Paul Graves, there was a great deal of interest in his unusual work. Now, he has personally just sent me the latest of his continued balloon sculptures and photography series which was just published in the art fashion magazine spring/summer 09 of "booklet" which just hit the news stands in Europe.
No one can describe their photos better than the photographer themselves and in Paul's own words to me, he wrote:
This entire project is about exploring the non-expected side of the material of balloons.
With more and more "balloon images" being made these days from advertisement to fashion editorial the material has taken on a very strong cultural reality that already needs to be transformed to the next level.
Im not saying I accomplish that goal with this work but I try to push the viewer to question and explore.
Also this work has more of a free spirit then some of the last balloon projects I have done. I wanted to be free from the "art of twisting balloons" and still make an image full of emotion and ideas.
The fact that the work was published in Booklet is because the publishers asked me for an "art project" to translate my idea of "hells angles", the theme of this issue.
Moving away from selling products and more towards images that stand alone and have a life outside the commercial photography world.
above: The opening spread for the editorial in Booklet #10
And here's a good look at the photos (they are nice and big, please click to enlarge)
Balloon Beauty:
Fuck:
Headache:
Pussy Party:
Shit:
Whip It:
The May issue of Booklet Magazine in which the photos are shown:
www.booklet.ws
If you didn't see my first post on Paul's balloon Sculpture Photography, take a look at it here.
Paul has lots of terrific product photography in his portfolio, such as his shot for Nina Peter shown above, so be sure to look at all of Paul's wonderful work at his site here
