Staged narratives have a natural appeal. It is self-conscious and aware in its composition. The subjects themselves often are unsettling because they are so similar to imaginative ideas we have in our heads of reality. It is for this precise reason that they feel oddly off, slightly unbalanced and amiss. Almost an insult to the perfection of our own projected opinions.
And, perhaps this is why we are compelled forward towards such works--because we are narcissistic and enjoy some degree of empathy in teh self-consciousness of the figures. In particular, China native Maleonn (or Ma Liang) excels in teh realm of staged narrative photography. With meticulous thought and care, he creates elaborately composed photographs that are akin to his American counterpart, Jeff Wall.
In one particular series, Nostalgia, Maleonn recreates scenes from childhood by staging children just being children. Taken in an abandoned field, these photographs encapsulate the essence of youth through scenes of childhood play. Yet the situation is problematized by the austere and traditional Chinese uniforms the children wear--a strict reminder of irremovable subconscious nationalistic tendencies.
I chose to emulate this particular series in part because staged narrative has always held an enigmatic mystique for me. The ability to fake reality without truly succeeding seems like such an enticing and haunting paradox all in one. Furthermore, I decided to similarly recreate scenes from childhood. However, I chose college aged models to play the part of children. While the idea seems whimsical and carefree, the images cannot be departed from the imminent truth that childhood can never be reattained. Both age and time has separated the subject from a period in their life that was not so long ago, but is forever lost. Their near nudity suggests an attempt to revert to the womb and to a time when things were not so pressurized and heavy. Yet in each image, there is a reminder of their adulthood and link to responsibility whether gun, lingerie, cigarettes, or alcohol. The aged and cracked overlay further separates them, making this futile replay unable to be anything more than a nostalgic memory.
Maleonn's Nostalgia:
My emulation:
