Classic photographs of 'Sofas, Birds and Knees' recreated in colourful Play-Doh
Sofas, Birds and Knees is an exhibition of new photographs rendered in Play-Doh by artist Eleanor Macnair, featured previously.
Original photograph: Michael and Sandy Marsh, Amarillo, Texas, September 27, 1974 by Stephen Shore rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
The recreated images, taken by a range of famous photographers, are grouped not by genre, maker nor time-period but by the common recurrence of... sofas, birds and knees.
"Since I began Photographs Rendered in Play-Doh in 2014, I have found myself attracted to photographs containing certain objects, animals or themes, interested in what is the same and what is different between each of these images," explains Eleanor. "I hoard these image files to recreate in Play-Doh at a later date. The exhibition does not claim to be an authority on sofas, birds and knees in photographic history – rather a brief and eccentric tour – hopefully tempting the viewer on to explore further."
The works recreated in the exhibition include those by Stephen Shore, Andre Kertesz, William Eggleston, Ren Hang, Paolo Ventura, Fukase, Evelyn Hofer, Sally Mann, Mickalene Thomas and Roger Ballen amongst others.
Each print begins life as a Play-Doh model which is then photographed and later destroyed before being posted on the Internet. The works no longer exist, they become ephemeral and the print on the gallery wall is the result of a Chinese whisper from the original image. Tools used are "amateur" – off the shelf Play-Doh (the only colours hand-mixed are the flesh tones), a plastic chopping board, a scalpel, cocktail sticks, cotton wool buds and an empty wine bottle as a rolling pin.
Sofas, Birds and Knees goes on show from 28 April until 1 June 2018 at Kleinschmidt Fine Photographs, Wiesbaden, Germany. Find out more at eleanormacnair.com.
Original photograph: Afro Goddess Ex Lovers friend, 2006 by Mickalene Thomas rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: England’s Dreaming (Rosemary and George on the sofa) August 1993 by Corinne Day rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: Phoenix Park on a Sunday, Dublin, 1966 by Evelyn Hofer rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: Erimo Cape, 1976, from ‘Solitude of Ravens’ by Masahisa Fukase rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: Satiric Dancer, Paris, 1926 by André Kertész rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: Renee, Paris, 1931 by Jacques-Henri Lartigue rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: Girl with bat and ball, 1977 by Mark Cohen rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: Eric with Rooster, 2001 by Shelby Lee Adams rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
Original photograph: From ’The Lost Head & The Bird’ by Sohrab Hura rendered in Play-Doh © Eleanor Macnair
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