In contemporary art photography, the nude may be treated in any of many ways. An isolated figure lays casually in an unlikely location. Her relaxed demeanor is paradoxical in the outdoor urban setting of concrete and steel. A thin strip of diamond-plate pattern reinforces the oblique line of her torso where it intersects the main diagonal division of the composition. A crisp corner-to-corner arc divides the image into two regions. The visual dichotomy between the dark upper right and the light lower left of this construction echoes the contextual dichotomy of her warm body amidst the almost lifeless surroundings.
Her hand is raised to her head, in an almost relaxed pose. Her flowing blond hair stands in contrast to the rigid forms and angular patterns. Her arched back and pointed toes emphasize her sensual posture.
Contemporary art photography, especially the nude genre, often acts as a refuge. This particular image stands in contrast to that notion. Bleached hues hint at an acidic, dystopian industrial atmosphere. Stains and cracks punctuate the forgotten wall on which her feet are poised. A hard shadow beneath her emphasizes the curves of her body, preventing it from blending in with light tones of the foreground. The drab tones are reminiscent of science fiction films and novels that warn of bleak futures if humankind doesn’t abandoned self-destructive ways.
