© 2016 ANAHELL
Brilio.net/en - Eyes are the window to the soul; even if theyre drawn on the back of people.
At least that is what artist AnaHell thought when she started a project named Secret Friend, where she created some strange, creepy and odd-looking characters out of ordinary situations.
AnaHell has people bend over at their waists as she draws various face expressions and characters on their backs. She dresses their bodies to look like theyre standing upright, thereby sets up the creatures that she calls her 'Secret Friends'.
I'm a Spanish artist with a background in illustration and I'm fond of cartoons and passionate about absurdity and surrealism, says AnaHell, as reported by Mashable.
She wants to work with ordinary things around her and transform them into something else to reveal a new perspective. That is, she said, her main focus in art and photography.
Lately I shy away from fancy equipment and studios, I try to keep it light and raw to make the viewer feel a lot closer to the subject, says AnaHell.
The idea for the project came by chance, during a different projects shoot.
It happened really spontaneously during a creative shoot in which I was working on creating body postures that created an illusion that would be mind bending says she. In one of the positions it just clicked, I had a 'Eureka' moment and told my model to stay put and ran and grabbed an eyeliner and drew two circles on the creature's new face. That was the birth of Secret Friends.
Image: Anahell
Image: Anahell
Each character created in the projects was placed into a very ordinary situations in everyday life, such as taking the trash out or sleeping under the blanket.
The idea is to mimic everyday circumstances with a bit of a satirical view to poke fun at modern day life, she says.
To create such characters, AnaHell needs persons with flexible bodies as models. She eventually chose some of her most limber friends for that purpose.
A certain level of flexibility is needed, but I really like to work with people that are close to me and that I know well, it makes the shooting a lot more fun, says she.
Reactions to AnaHell's photographs have been varied.
It's been absolutely crazy, there have been so many different reactions but no one seems to be indifferent, says she.
According to her, some people were completely freaked out, and even grossed out, by Secret Friends. Yet the others were delighted by them and find them extraordinary.
I think they're really cute and funny and it's amazing how someone can take on a whole new identity when they become a Secret Friend, says she.
Despite of various reactions, one thing is for certain: no one can deny that these images are spellbinding. It might take a few minutes before the viewer figures out that the human body can contort itself into such strange characters. The poses look so awkward.
Turns out, the models were bending their waists until their heads touches their knees. Well, they might be experts in doing the uttanasana yoga pose.
Beyond peoples polarized views on the Secret Friends, AnaHell has many plans for them.
I'm going to take them around the world and there may also be some satire on current events," says she. "I'm also in the process on working on some video projects with them and one of my main goals is to make a Secret Friends book.
Source: Mashable
(brl/tis)
