Third Eye

Wayne Martin Belger constructs sacred photographic machines that he then uses to capture kindred imagery. These constructions are essentially handmade pinhole cameras that are assembled from relics and custom machined parts. These cameras have a sacred mystical feel to them and seem to be imbued with the spiritual presence of the relics.

The image above is of a camera he calls “Third Eye”, it is constructed of Aluminium, Titanium, Brass, Silver, Gem Stones and a 150 year old skull of a 13 year old girl. Light enters the hole in the center of the skull and exposes the film. The hole is positioned in the location traditionally considered the third eye, often believed to be the gate that leads within to realms of higher consciousness. To view the world through the third eye is to see things from an enlightened point of view. Belger wants the images to be “processed” through the dead girls “enlightened” view instead of his own personal photographic  vision. This creates a unique relationship between artist and medium. Read the full post

The Anatomy Lesson

The word diorama conjures images of museum displays and science fairs, but Australian artist Mark Powell takes this notion and turns it on its head. He creates miniture tableaus displaying nightmarish scenes of torture, dissection, and suffering that seem suspended in time. We ,the viewer, become like Dante bearing witness to the horror of the Inferno as we transverse the nine levels of Hell.

The fear I am refering to is the fear of the id, the fear of those horrors that nature inevitably inflicts on all of us, the fear of disease, of physical and psychological decay. The dread of irreversible psychosis and demonic possesion have been obsessions for me and I have sculpted my worlds in an attempt to exorcise this dread. - Mark Powell

You can view these fascinating dioramas at Mark’s website and see additional works in his Flickr gallery.

Untitled

Los Angeles based photographer Chad Michael Ward creates horror images that both enthrall and repulse the viewer. Most disturbing are his erotic images of the female form twisted into something hideously arousing. Ward’s women are mutilated beauties, disfigured but still seductive using “womanly wiles” to pull us into their darkness. Read the full post