Richard Gardner


Artist Statement“Bebe Identity”

Photographed as thoughtful beings, the dolls are in inorganic representation of the conscious persona. Through the use of analogous imagery, the artist prompts the viewer to construct personal meaning and thus subjectively interpret the thoughts of each doll. In the end, the viewer is left with the discordant awareness that the thoughts they have attached to what they have observed is not and never will be a living thing. Evocative, repressive and disturbingly sexual, Bebe exposes the stark imperfections of humans through the safety of inanimate objects.

Artist Bio

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. “Carl Jung”

Richard Gardner’s roots are grounded in beauty.  Major influences include the celebrated fashion photographer Sarah Moon in addition to Surrealist artist Man Ray.  For decades as a hairdresser, make-up artist and photographer, he has documented the  perceived reality of beauty within the current zeitgeist.  A self-taught photographer, Gardner has taken courses at both International Center of Photography and The Center of Photography at Woodstock.

www.richardgardnerphotography.com