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- Encounters Reviewed By Norm Goldman of Bookpleasures.com
Encounters Reviewed By Norm Goldman of Bookpleasures.com
- By Norm Goldman
- Published May 13, 2019
- GENERAL NON-FICTION REVIEWS
Norm Goldman
Norm Goldman, B.A. LL.L, is the
Publisher & Editor of http://Bookpleasures.com. To read more about Norm CLICK HERE
Author, Photographer & Artist: Patrick Stull
Contributions: Book Design & Compositions Sayali Shah:
Editor: Kate Read: Art Assistant: Rossella Scapini
Digital Contributions: Agnieszka Kania, Sayali Shah & Hermali Zavali
ISBN: 978-0692-96051-6
With
his stunning collection of images displayed in his recent tome,
Encounters Patrick Stull
aims to teach, understand and shape our behavior in a positive manner
toward women. As he notes, the images operate in multiple disciplines: the
realm of the surreal, blatant reality and the abstract. He has
created postures and elements in the imagery to exemplify his view of
women, the body, society and, most of all, his love for art.
Self-
taught, Stull works in several artistic disciplines and his ongoing
work bases itself in large-scale digital photography accompanied by
sculpture cast, paintings, poetry/prose, and
drawings.
One of the many remarkable accomplishments of this
coffee-table book is its rich, multi-faceted and intriguing
reflections on women and their profound effect it had on me. No
doubt, how you interpret the images varies from one person to another
as illustrated by Stull's choice of photographs that depict his deep
fascination and respect he shows towards women.
Stull points
out that through his encounters with women he has been emotionally
and artistically inspired to create, to write and, most of all, to
think about this amazing creature and his daily actions toward all
women. “There is something about women and the female form that is
consistently dignified, even in the face of overwhelming adversity,
cultural violence, and overt sexualization.”
It has taken
Stull eighteen years to compile the two hundred thirty-two page book,
which are divided into thirteen sections and which also include some short writings,
that are an outgrowth of Stull's encounters with women during seventy
years of his life.
The images are not only
are exemplary of Stull's craft as a photographer but also the manner
he can capture each subject with high sensitivity wherein each image
is to be encountered and contemplated on its own terms. He informs
his viewers that he is offering a different kind of encounter where
we can experience a convergence between reality, the surreal and the
subconscious.
Rest assured, to experience Stull's world is
both compelling and an awakening of the subconscious. This is quite
apparent with the choice of subject matter in each section that makes
the book so intriguing.
Viewers'
horizons of the female form are bound to be widened. Consider the
section Transcends Comprehension where Stull asks the viewer
to confront various taboos around female nudity and tattoos. In the
photo, we notice a woman completely covered with tattoos which Stull
hopes will foster conversations around traditional beauty, notions of
femininity, and the construction of the body as art. Stull writes
that he wants to transport us to a place where reality, the surreal
and the absurd collide, creating an artistic impression. In another
spread, Replicating Oneself, Stull offers his viewers an
opportunity to understand “the complexity, anxiety, despair,
elation, power and love” of the female during pregnancy. He states,
“I find myself fascinated by the female form as it expands,
creating shapes and shadows. I listen to her words of excitement and
fear, like many of my pregnant subjects.”
Stull's
breathtaking images go beyond the realm of documenting specific
situations. They inform via their rich depth of characters exposing a
deeper understanding and appreciation of the beauty and complexity of
the female form.
A
portion of the proceeds from the book will go to protect and empower
women.
Follow Here To Read Norm's Interview With Patrick