Reine Paradis (b. 1989) is known for a distinct aesthetic and meticulously specific palette. Eclipse, the artist’s newest series, is no different. A vivid pink backdrop frames lurid green fabric, creating surreal settings that lack any grounding in time or space. The images are the culmination of a career-long exploration into light, colour and form. Paradis places herself as the focus of the photographs, meticulously designing self-portraits through scale models and maquettes.
The sparse landscape and geometric shapes of Eclipse conjure up the feeling of being on another planet, harkening back to the Space Age designs popularised in the 1960s. This feeling is heightened by a neon pink palette with fluorescent green accents, a touch that has become a signature of the artist’s oeuvre. Reflective and transparent materials are also a surefire way to know you’re looking at a Paradis, intended to obscure, reflect and absorb light whilst creating an aurora-like barrier that can hide and illuminate.
Paradis creates self-portraits in unidentifiable locations throughout the world. Costumes, accessories and sculptures are all meticulously designed within a scene, creating a maquette to act as a blueprint whilst photographing the shot. The artist is always placed as the central figure, explaining that: “It’s a necessity for me to ‘live’ the scene in order to transmit the original vision completely.”
A new exhibition of this series at König Gallery, Berlin bring these works to life, including by turning them into fully immersive installations. The Curtain, for example, sees the outline of Paradis hidden behind sheer lime green fabric, which is draped out of the square window of an undefined building. Visitors to the gallery will be able to step inside of a life-size version of the photograph, placing themselves in the position of the artist.
Words: Emma Jacob
Image Credits:
All images courtesy of the artist.
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