We have seen a lot of strange art here at BuzzNick, but this one may take the cake. Tokyo-based photographer Haruhiko Kawaguchi, also known as Photographer Hal, vacuum-sealed couples together to create a bizarre photo series titled “Flesh Love”. “I am currently seeing new dimensions in portrait photography by challenging the majestic theme of mankind, defined through love,” said the artist known as Photographer Hal. Check out the photo series titled “Flesh Love” below.
Hal wraps willing couples in plastic which is normally used to store futon covers, then sucks the air out with a vacuum cleaner nearly smothering them.
The subjects then have to hold their breath for about 10 seconds, while he snaps a couple of quick pictures with his Pentax 645D DSLR.
Sometimes the models are fully clothed, while other times they are completely nude. The models can also bring a prop if they’d like. Some have brought guitars, fruit, and other strange props with them.
“Flesh Love” is also available in book form and also has an iPad app available too for $13.00.
Photographer Hal says, “I go to Kabukicho in Shinjuku, underground bars in Shibuya, and many other places which are full of activity like luscious night-time bee-hives. When I see a couple of interest I will begin to negotiate. I’m sure that many people initially think of my proposal as unusual or even look through me like I am completely invisible, but I always push forward with my challenge to them.”
There was also an art display titled “Shrink” which was located in Germany a few years back. This as slightly different though as the people inside stayed inside during the art exhibit.
With Photographer Hal’s art pieces, they are only inside the vacuum sealed pouch for about 10 seconds. You have to have a lot of trust in the photographer to allow him to do something like this.
He said, “The models appear from all walks of life and individually have included musicians, dancers, strippers, laborers, restaurant and bar managers, photographers, businessmen and women, unsettled and unemployed.”
It is interesting to see how these couples and models chose to pose and what possessions they brought with them.
While others didn’t bring anything along with them, other than color coordinated outfits.
It shows what is probably very important to them in the grand scheme of things.
Would you dare to have a photographer vacuum seal you in a plastic pouch just for the sake of art? I don’t think I would, but then again, I tend to get a little claustrophobic. It is interesting to me that they would trust a total stranger to do this to them, but the pieces definitely end up being a very unique piece of art that they can hold onto for a very long time.