A couple of years ago I sat next to a man reading a newspaper in the train and I noticed an article about a German photographer called Loretta Lux. I don’t know why but I remembered her name and googled her. I immediately fell in love with her work and I rediscovered it last week so I thought I could share it with you guys.
(‘Selfportrait’ 2007)
Loretta Lux’s photos can best be described as surreal. The image seems so real but there’s always something weird about the face that you can’t precisely put your finger on. A bit alienlike perhaps? She photographs children mostly, who are cute and scary at the same time. It’s like a picture perfect with a dark side to it. Nostalgic colors combined with childhood memories and beautiful settings are pretty much the main ingredients for her work. Somehow the pictures seem to recall of painted portraits, probably because Lux has a background as painter.
She’s currently having a retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Monterrey, Mexico. A bit far, perhaps, unless you live in the neighbourhood. So instead I’ll show you some of my favourite pictures:
Be sure to check out all her work at www.lorettalux.de!
Filed under: art, photography | Tagged: loretta, lux, photography
I think she manipulates the photographs by enlarging the eyes and readding them on the original picture. I guess that gives the surreal touch to it, if I’m not mistaken…
Yeah they’re definitely manipulated but she won’t tell how in interviews, people have been trying to find out how she does it but they never quite manage. Pretty complicated process I reckon.
I think it’s better if we don’t know, a bit of mystery hasn’t hurt anyone so far plus the magic would be gone if we did.