‘Body of Work’

New Zealand, 2015

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I saw a picture, a long while ago, of a draught horse stallion mounting a mare, an attendant using both hands to direct the stallion’s penis. That picture is still strong in my mind.

book

‘Body of Work’ was published 2015 by Vapour Momenta Books, the pocket-sized publishing arm of Catherine Griffiths and Bruce Connew.

“What Bruce Connew’s book ‘Body of Work’ recalibrates is the very interesting and historical metaphor of the horse ... ” Brad Feuerhelm’s review for American Suburb X, September 18, 2016.

‘Body of Work’ was published and signed during Paris Photo 2015, first at Le Bal, November 12, and again, Friday 13, at Café Lehmitz Photobooks aboard Polycopies, just before an awful madness came upon Paris.

“In the first instance, ‘Body of Work’ is about the orchestrated process of horse breeding. But, as I wriggled through the months of scrutiny, amidst the rawness of procreation, I became aware of a common anomaly in the mares being served. I came to recognise, in one mare after another, an anthropomorphic capacity to reflect. Through mournful eyes, they would make known an understanding of their peculiar predicament.” ... from the afterword.

Josef Chladek included ‘Body of Work’ on Virtual Bookshelf’s 2015 BEST list. His tweet early December 2015 said:  “One of the most stunning and beautiful books in a long time ...”

 

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exhibition & prints

The first brave showing of ‘Body of Work’ (2015) was at Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa gallery {Suite}, a 38-image grid of the series “recalibrating” the metaphor of the horse, opposite a 52-image grid of the surveillance series ‘I Saw You’ (2007) ... a dialogue.

Closed 7 July 2018 ... as said at the time: come if you dare!

The 38-image series of ‘Body of Work’ is available as a framed exhibition packed in three international-standard crates. Image size 800 x 532mm, frame size 830 x 562 mm, archival pigment prints on

308gsm Hahnemuhle Photo Rag.

exhibition & print enquiries

related writings

view all 38 works with print/price particulars

... the afterword

I saw a picture, a long while ago, of a draught horse stallion mounting a mare, an attendant using both hands to direct the stallion’s penis. That picture is still strong in my mind.

When I first explained my uncertain purpose to the horse stud owner, he said after my spiel, “Whatever blows your whistle.” Back in the city, my impersonations of the head breeder’s sweet-talking of a hesitant stallion—“Goood cock”, “Sheee’s cherry ripe for you”—only fostered frivolous human projections.

In the first instance, ‘Body of Work’ is about the orchestrated process of horse breeding. But, as I wriggled through the months of scrutiny, amidst the rawness of procreation, I became aware of a common anomaly in the mares being served. I came to recognise, in one mare after another, an anthropomorphic capacity to reflect. Through mournful eyes, they would make known an understanding of their peculiar predicament.

I wonder now whether this was my construction, and sprang from somewhere other than what I witnessed in the breeding barn.

BRUCE CONNEW / 08.2015

view all 38 works with print/price particulars

Body of Work, book spread

Body of Work #9

Body of Work, book spread

Body of Work, book spread

Body of Work, book spread

Body of Work #36

Body of Work, book cover

Body of Work, exhibition proposal