Projecting Malevich - STEVEN R. TABOR

Projecting Malevich

What happens when an image is comprised of basic geometric forms?

This series makes use of projection photography---a technique that originated in the 1960s with the work of John French. It involves projecting photographic images onto a model. This series projects photos of the paintings of Kazimir Severinovich Malevich (1879-1936) onto a model using a mini-beamer.

Malevich was a Russian avant-garde artist and art theorist, whose pioneering work and writing had a profound influence on the development of 20th century abstract art. In 1915, Malevich established the foundations of Suprematism when he published his manifesto, From Cubism to Suprematism. The Suprematists' interest in abstraction was fired by a search for the 'zero degree' of painting, the point beyond which the medium could not go without ceasing to be art. This encouraged the use of very simple motifs, since they best articulated the shape and flat surface of the canvases on which they were painted. Malevich created a suprematist "grammar" based on fundamental geometric forms; in particular, the square, the circle and the cross. Suprematism embodied a profoundly anti-materialist, anti-utilitarian philosophy.

Asimira Iliac, a professional model, artist and rope expert, posed for the photographs and provided valuable input and suggestions throughout the project. The series was shot in a home studio, which was largely devoid of props, except for a Rattan Peacock Chair, a pair of vintage Cartier sunglasses, and a mirror.

If you'd like to see the full series, download the PDF catalogue here.