Art&Culture
Dog gods
Tim Flach’s work combines unbelievably detailed studio shots with images taken in natural environments to document the many facets of our bond with the canine kind.
READ MOREFour&Sons
Dogs and
culture collide
CLOSE
CLOSE
Dog gods
Looking at Tim Flach’s Dog Gods I am immediately overcome with disparate feelings. I feel adoration yet I am uncomfortable. Unbelievable studio detail coupled with quintessential captured moments wake up my curiosity for dog breeds I would usually ignore. Flipside, I wonder if the attention to detail is purely indulgent aesthetics. Ubiquitous is the human need to connect with dog friends by turning them into parodies of ourselves. Haircuts and grooming, modelling and training – it’s impossible to see a dog’s perspective on these matters beyond the wagging tell-tail.
The series continues with dogs in their natural environments or at least appearing with that intent. Wolves in the snow, sheep dogs on farms and a dog pack with no background at all. The shots on the whole are visually stunning, mystical, comedic and challenging. Flach’s goal is to document the bond created over centuries with differing dog breeds and help the audience to appreciate how much they bring to our lives. The discomfort I mentioned above is in particular response to two close-ups, the Shar-pei depicted with its head drooped, almost highlighting a sadness for the way of the world, its wrinkles getting in the way of vision and physicality and the Afghan hound/s with long blow-dried hair mimicking none other than a rock star figure.
I don’t intend to rain on the creative effort to document dogs in their magnified glory. After all, they are astounding figures of our world that bring, breed and teach love. Flach’s work is original, confronting and thought-provoking, can we hope for anything more from photography? It’s clear from this exhibit that we dictate our relationship with dogs and how they are presented, the bond we share is reciprocated but through a human lens and on our terms.
—
Photography by Tim Flach
To see the complete Dog Gods series, click here
Art&Culture
Canis Lupus Familiaris
by Amy Freeborn
The Natural History Museum at Tring, Hertfordshire, England, opened its doors in 1892 to showcase the private collection of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild. Today it still holds the largest collection of domestic dogs on display in the UK.
READ MORERecommended
Sausages and Food
An extensive selection of work by Welsh conceptual artist-come-photographer Keith Arnatt is currently being exhibited at Tate Britain. The show includes one of his most renowned series, Walking the Dog (1976-79), a captivating collection of black and white portraits of dogs and their owners looking straight into camera. Until 11th August 2013.
Recommended by João Bento, Writer
For more information click here
Recommended
Same same but different
Wood grain, pen strokes, felt strips. Over hundred artists have dressed and groomed Gerald, a paper Bracco Italiano, as part of a collaboration led by agency Lazerian. You can check the pack at 60 Reade Gallery during New York Design Week.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Art&Culture
The look of love
by Emma Guthrie
From dogs and cats, to owls and tarantulas, Tobias Lang’s photographic series
‘Your Pet and You’ sheds new light on man and their best friends.
Recommended
Keith Haring
Glowing babies, big hearts, dancing people, barking dogs. Vivienne Westwood once compared the symbolic language of Keith Haring to hieroglyphs. If anything, Keith Haring’s work is pure gut expression. When in Paris, visit the retrospective organised by The Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville in association with Le Centquatre. With more than 250 pictures on canvas and tarpaulins and from subway walls, as well as some truly monumental art pieces, the show is not to be missed. Until 18 August 2013.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Art&Culture
Sweet dreams are made of this
by Meredith Forrester
Susan Sabo’s latest project, I Dreamt of Dogs, helps the California-based photographer to deal with unfinished business.
READ MORECommunity
Dead Dog Beach
by Sophie Gamand
Photographer Sophie Gamand’s world had been filled with bedazzled silk dresses and feathered hats until she ventured into Dead Dog Beach, Puerto Rico. This is her heartfelt account of the experience informing her work to this day.
READ MORERecommended
One Day In History
Norwegian photographer Andrea Gjestvang wins the Sony World Photography Award for her moving collection of portraits of surviving teenagers of the Utoya massacre. Fifteen-year-old Iselin Rose Borc (featured) recalls: “In the period after Utoya I had a really hard time sleeping. I was afraid of the dark and suffered dreadful nightmares. My mom and I decided that getting a dog might help me, so I got Athene. Now she sleeps on top of my stomach every night.” That’s why they are called man’s best friend.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Recommended
LIGHTEN UP
Abigail Ahern knows your home needen’t be staid. Combining her love of dogs and decor, these little beauties have it all. Seriously, if household accessories had personalities, they would look like this.
Recommended by Emma Guthrie, Journalist
For more information click here
Art&Culture
The Secret Lives of Pets
by Four&Sons
Ginger and Wiggley, two adopted guinea pigs, inspired Julianna Koh-Blackwell to start documenting pets in their environment. We talk to the award-winning, Sydney-based photographer about the importance of story-telling, her clients and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
READ MORE