People are sometimes bound, caught and helpless. Physical bondage can represent this constraint. Being forced to submit. To be at the mercy of another. Having to succumb to another's demands. While you may be uneasy and fearful at first, the tables can be turned by letting go and owning the energy and drawing power from it rendering the restraints useless. Realising you have just as much control over the other as they have over you.
For our first art project, we brought this to life with some of our favourite people from the skateboarding and Photographic worlds: our model Rihannon was bound and at the mercy of Renton's and Juergen's ability to jump or grind their way just past her. She submits to the possible pain before slowly taking control; breaking free and it ending with the skaters' being taken to the extreme.
Bondage & Sk8tism is on display at SoHigh Gallery 143A Chapel St Windsor. ( Photographs are signed 1 of 1's. POA)
Creative Direction: Paul Stam
Thanks to:
Skaters: Renton Millar and Juergen Horrwarth
Renton Millar is a ramp legend and all round awesome bloke from Melbourne. Renton came to prominence in 2001 when his sponsor Globe shoes’ video, Opinion, was released which showcased him performing tricks including a 360 flip crooked grind, nollie flip 5-0 and kick flip nose grind shove it on a vert ramp. A true legend.
Juergen Horrwarth This German skate champion can do it all: he oozes creativity from every pore: this tattooed drummer and designer has created the Berlin-Skatehalle indoor skatepark, as well as having dominated the skate world in every field of the sport.
Model: Rhiannon Tragear-Ragg
Photography & Styling: Peter Coulson
Multiple award winner and amazing photographer, who specialises in beauty, fashion and fetish Photography. Peter mixes a range of styles and fuses the latest fashion trends with his personal conceptual reflections. As he says, "my images are strong, sensual and mysteriously elegant with a twist of my screwed up sense of humour.”
Make up: Eugenia Jenny