Rani Bruchstein
Tel Aviv, 1973
Bruchstein, a self-taught artist, seeks to establish a close relationship with his subjects. The relationship begins with an invitation to the studio, followed by a brief interview to determine who best fits the project. So far, he has invited dozens of people, with whom he has spent hours, if not days, cultivating closeness and intimacy until he feels their trust in him and the camera. At that point, he asks them to reveal themselves gradually, layer by layer, physically and mentally, while covering them with make-up like a mask: he hides on one side and reveals and unveils on the other.
During photo shoots, he takes hundreds of photos in an attempt to capture the precise moment and expression that fits his vision. His aim is to bring the inner emotions to the surface: body, face, gestures and expression. Bruchstein uses light and shadow to emphasise mood and emotion while blurring boundaries.
Colors and layers of make-up are used as props to express the inner strength of his models and blur the line between inside and outside. Bruchstein’s characters interact with the History of Art as well as contemporary androgynous figures. They have eroticism, but it is asexual. The pictures are minimalist and yet full of color, contrast and seduction. The subjects are often photographed with their eyes closed, trapped within their imaginary world.
