Phil Griffin photographs man in an unorthodox way and looks for an intense relationship with his subject. For his new series Dark Matter, he explores what colour means and what it represents in our current society. He chose 13 men with different backgrounds with whom he built a very strong personal relationship throughout the creative process. The resulting images are a vibrant look at masculinity and colour.
“What colour are you in the dark? A simple but somehow complex beginning, a question designed to open up a conversation on the nature of man and his relationship to colour, dark and light but also to throw us off balance. And so we began. The men were then asked to describe colours for the way they feel about identity and key human emotions – Love, Shame, Hope, Fear.”
By obtaining a deeper background knowledge of the subject before shooting, a bond of trust is created which goes beyond the superficial. Sometimes month-long conversations took place before Phil decided to photograph someone and when. By unforcedly obligating the subjects to look deeper into themselves he attempts to show the invisible power, imagination and beauty which lies in all of us.
The origin of this exhibition lies in examining what colour means and what it represents in our current society. The opposition of colours we are confronted with on a daily basis like skin colour, instinctively causes a separation. The aspect colour’ is the base of this series of new works. Every subject was asked to think about what colour related the most to beauty. By using this colour throughout the whole decor of the shoot, the subject suddenly found himself in a newly created landscape. The beauty was, as it were, taken out of the subconscious of the subject and made visible.
Phil’s works have been produced as C-type prints on Fuji Peal paper, Perspex Face mounted and finished with slim Tray Frames.
Phil Griffin: Dark Matter
24th February – 15th April 2018
Keteleer Gallery
NEXT DOOR
Leopoldstraat 55 – 2000 Antwerp
Find Out More About Phil’s Exhibition
About Phil Griffin:
Phil Griffin graduated fromBallet Rambert’ in London as a dancer and choreographer. As head of creative at MCA in London Phil commissioned art films music videos & photo shoots & TV performances for both UK & International artists such as C&C Music Factory, Ocean Colour Scene, Black Grape, Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child & Bobby Brown.
Extending his film work into photography, Phil has created visual campaigns & portraits that include Amy Winehouse Adele, Kevin Spacey, Sigourney Weaver, Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, John Bon Jovi, Rihanna, Annie Lennox, Naomi Cambell, Jay Z & Helen Mirren.