Transfiguration

'Transfiguration' explores the process of capturing live movement, photographing international contemporary circus artists and dancers in interesting and provocative ways.
Like a mask, layers of body paint and powder disguise the identity of the subject, showcasing the unique physicality and exploring the spirit of each performer.

"Photographer Ben Hopper‘s 'Transfiguration' project transforms his subjects into living sculptures. Each photo is charged with kinetic energy, only heightened by the bold streaks of body paint and splatters of white powder.
Some of the photographs look like cubist paintings because of the contrast between black, white, and human flesh along with the seemingly impossible angles and feats of flexibility performed by the subjects.
The body paint looks almost like strokes of charcoal, creating depth while also the illusion of two-dimensionality." – Beautiful/Decay

"Hopper challenges art through his photography by engaging bodies, faces and people in general within his settings." – EverythingWithATwist

"...more like 3D Jackson Pollock paintings or John Chamberlain sculptures than human beings." – The Huffington Post

The dancers and circus artists in Transfiguration are (in alphabetical order):
Alejandra Baño, Edouard Doye, Emma Farnell-Watson, Fiona Thornhill, Francy Eliza Sobola, Garance Hubert-Samson, Guillaume Blais, Hauk Pattison, Jessica Ladley, Jonathan Fortin, Kaner Flex, Katie Hill, Lauren Taylor, Leilani Franco, Lil Rice, Luca Chiarva, Lucie Roux, Sasha Flexy, Shakirudeen “Bonetics”, Yammel Rodriguez.

'Transfiguration' first exhibited in Paris at Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (Jan 2016) following a successful Kickstarter campaign in Nov 2015.
In April 2016 it exhibited at The Roundhouse (London) as part of their contemporary circus festival CircusFest. In May 2016 'Transfiguration' exhibited at The Truman Brewery in the heart of Brick Lane, London.
The London exhibitions were supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Selected press and write-ups: The Huffington Post, Daily Mail, ViralNova, Bored Panda, Design You Trust, Juxtapoz Magazine, Beautiful/Decay, EverythingWithATwist, iGNANT, The Phoblographer, Modernism.

'Transfiguration' is an ongoing project.
(CC) 2012-2017 Ben Hopper.