| Australian Kate O’Brien, under the moniker of “Eye Candy for the Broken Hearted,” creates staged portraiture and illustrative photography that closely resembles Victorian paintings or antique photographs. Through skilled make-up, set construction, and elaborate costuming, she creates a world that references past history but is firmly grounded in modern times and practices. View more of O'Brien's work, and an article written by Eric Grignol, in the pages of INSIGHT. |
Pressure Drop, (2007).
Señor Brash Pontificates, (2007).
Magdadela, (2007).
| “Digital vintaging” is a key element in obtaining the distinctive look of O’Brien’s pieces. Taking the idea of staging a scene one step further, the digital artist now can simulate with computer effects the scratches, tears, dust, dirt, and smudges to give the viewer a perception of something weathered from time. The results are amplified when paired with an old, ornate frame. When viewed this way, the work becomes less strictly a photograph and more like an art object. Even the final piece can itself be considered staged, engineered to continue the façade and shift in perception. |
