Tableau Vivant –
“A tableau vivant, French for ‘living picture’, is a static scene containing one or more models. They are stationary, usually in costume, carefully posed, with props and/or scenery, and may be theatrically lit.”
Guia Besana
“Guia Besana is a self-taught photographer currently living and working in between Paris (France) and Barcelona (Spain). After studies in media and communication in Turin, Italy, in 1994 she becomes a photographer and moves to Paris (France). With a particular attention to women’s issues she travels in different countries and joins Anzenberger Agency in 2005 and the gallery in 2013. Since 2016, she is also represented by 1968 Gallery (London).” http://guiabesana.com/about/
In an interview Besana talked about how her work with tableau vivant was inspired by her pregnancy. She says, “Pregnancy was a key moment because of my reduced mobility. I naturally and instinctively found myself turning my thoughts into staged sets which depicted the reality I was living.” http://www.cortonaonthemove.com/en/interview/interview-guia-besana/
Examples of her work:
Examples of tableau vivant:
My Plan:
Pulp Fiction (1994):
I will be recreating these pictures from the film “Pulp Fiction”.
“Pulp Fiction” is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino; it is based on a story by Tarantino and Roger Avary. Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, and Uma Thurman, it tells several stories of criminal Los Angeles. The film’s title refers to the pulp magazines and hard boiled crime novels popular during the mid-20th century, known for their graphic violence and punchy dialogue.
The meaning behind these photos are the outcomes and affects of drug abuse and crimes. I want to show how badly these things effect people and how deadly drugs and crime can be, especially for younger people. Younger audiences are being easily influenced into taking drugs and committing crimes, so I want to show them what will end up happening if they continue this behaviour.
My model for these photos will be my friend Charlotte because she has short hair. I will be editing her hair to make it black and give her a fringe. if i can’t manage to give her a fringe I will just leave her hair as it is, but still edit it black. I will be taking these photos at a friends house because it is the best place to do it because the layout is similar to the pictures. For the cigarette and the gun I will be using a toy gun and a theater cigarette, and I will get most of the props from around my own home.
Scene for nose bleed picture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDMJSg0a5u0
Contact Sheet:
Green – Yes
Orange – Maybe
Red – No
Final Photos (Unedited):
Final Images (Edited):
I really like how these photos turned out I think I was able to recreate the original photos very well and I was also able to convey the message I wanted to convey.