Update: ‘Transfiguration’ Exhibitions at the Roundhouse & theprintspace (London / April 2016)
“Transfiguration” features renowned international contemporary circus artists and dancers. The project showcases their unique physicality and explores the spirit of the performer.
Like a mask, layers of body paint and powder disguise the identity of the subject, and release something animalistic from within.
In the final images a sculpted, abstract, less human figure emerges.
The first photo shoot with dancer Alejandra Baño dates back to November 2012. That shoot was an experiment but something happened there.
A little more than 2 years later I am very excited to share with you the first batch of images from my new project “Transfiguration“.
For this project I decided to work with circus artists and dancers for their physical appearance and capabilities.
The list includes international acclaimed performers and graduates of the world’s leading circus schools, École nationale de cirque (Montreal, Canada), CNAC; Centre national des arts du cirque (Châlons-en-Champagne, France) and National Centre for Circus Arts (London, UK).
List of participators so far (in alphabetical order):
Alejandra Baño
Garance Hubert-Samson
Guillaume Blais
Hauk Pattison
Jonathan Fortin
Kaner Flex
Lauren Taylor
Leilani Franco
Luca Chiarva
Lucie Roux
Sasha Flexy
Shakirudeen “Bonetics”
Yammel Rodriguez
Selected press & write-ups:
The Huffington Post, Daily Mail, Bloglovin’, ViralNova, Bored Panda, Design You Trust, Juxtapoz Magazine, Beautiful/Decay, EverythingWithATwist, Modernism.
Selected quotes:
“Photographer Ben Hopper‘s “Transfiguration” project transforms his subjects into living sculptures. Each photo is charged with kinetic energy, only heightened by the bold streaks of body paint and splatters of white powder.
Some of the photographs look like cubist paintings because of the contrast between black, white, and human flesh along with the seemingly impossible angles and feats of flexibility performed by the subjects. The body paint looks almost like strokes of charcoal, creating depth while also the illusion of two-dimensionality.” – Beautiful/Decay
“Hopper challenges art through his photography by engaging bodies, faces and people in general within his settings.” – EverythingWithATwist
“…more like 3D Jackson Pollock paintings or John Chamberlain sculptures than human beings.” – The Huffington Post
The project is still going and there’s more work that I will release later on.
Photographed with Mamiya Leaf Credo 80 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Limited edition prints of “Transfiguration” are available for purchase.
For print purchases / press inquiries please contact me directly on: therealbenhopper@gmail.com
View project on my main website.
View project on my Facebook page.
Thank you: Mamiya Leaf, Peartree Photo, Escapade Fancy Dress (for the body paint)
