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BODY STUDY, AN HOMAGE TO HELMUT NEWTON & ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE BY ALEXANDER JAMES

Both Newton and Mapplethorpe were in stark contrast to Alexander’s practice, they often had a camera in the bedroom or wherever their subjects were at their most exposed; screwing in a dingy backwater club toilet or a pay by the hour hotel room. Their fixation was on transgression, sadism, evil, and death. Incapable of love, they used and abused people, including themselves. Whilst Mapplethorpe and Newton were perversely proud of their lack of technical knowledge Newton swings the balance, having a brilliant but cold eye, ruthlessly objectifying their sex partners, muses and models alike. ‘They were the forerunners in this practice, which is both mesmerizing and very unsettling to me’ says Alexander.

Where Newton and Mapplethorpe channel intimacy with their subjects to abusive extremes, Alexander is driven by the sense of a unique and anonymous encounter. The entire cast, crew and even the location were completely unknown to the photographer before this two day shoot, a scenario purposely crafted by the photographer. Their flesh fused with metallic tension, bodies triangulate between polished concrete, iron chains, ropes and rusted columns.

It shows that Alexander James has absorbed the 'in your face' approach of Robert Mapplethorpe and blended it with the rich textured prowess of Helmut Newton defying their loveless and ruthless objectification. This blending of styles makes us want to see more but teases instead; and the eye is drawn more towards composition and space, creating a beautiful symmetry and empathy with his subjects; whilst remaining polished, tense and isolated.

Objectification in today's society is being compounded by career hungry image makers and advertisers alike these days, Alexander's aim is to move the art forward without the use of sensationalism; opposing the media stream to find his own path. Text: Isaac Haylet.

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