Self-taught photographer
Jon Jacobsen creates portraits that feel like the stuff of beautiful nightmares. In
fact, he operates on the idea that reality and fantasy might not be so
far from each other as we think.
His portraits and self-portraits reflect the fragility of human nature and many works echo the symbolic
language and dark
beauty
of memento mori pieces. The colorful, swirling lines that emanate from
his subjects seem to hint at another person or personality. What could
look like a placid, somewhat Classical portrait becomes disturbing and
distorted. It’s hard to tell whether the subjects are rotting away or
actually transforming into their
true shape.
In GIF form they become especially eerie. The movement of the
intricate lines in the GIFs seem like the throwing of paint or – more
creepily — the splash of a liquid like blood. The surrealist qualities
of the works come through even more here as the body’s flesh seems to
twist and transform.
The portraits mesh this
modern
digital tool with a Classical approach towards death and portraiture,
twisted by Jacobsen’s uniquely unsettling visions. His works further
comment on image-making: there’s much more to our bodies that the
pristine, exterior physicality we put forth in our own photos. Actually,
there might be something more fantastical and disturbing inside of us
than we imagined.
by Eva Rucinos for
High Fructose
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