Photographer Hals’ ‘Flesh Love’: Vacuum Sealed Couples
A Japanese photographer based in Tokyo who goes by the name Photographer Hal has created this wonderful series called “Flesh Love,” which features a number of couples who are vacuum sealed together. Not only is each individual photo aesthetically pleasing, they are thought-provoking and there are countless ways to interpret the idea behind the photos.
In a powerfully figurative sense, these photos illustrate the variety of wild emotions that can come with a relationship between two lovers, or even those that lust each other. Not only can the feeling of a relationship be extraordinarily comforting, as if you are always there for each other in your own little world; but it also can be suffocating, as if you are completely isolated from the rest of the world. I have never seen a work of art demonstrate this confusing concept of love in such a visually obvious way without the use of language.
The coolest part about the project is probably the process that makes it happen. Photographer Hal likes to go to underground bars and places like that in order to find a couple that he thinks is interesting. He then approaches them with the idea of his bizarre project and hopes that they are willing to do something that is far out there. Reminiscent of the iconic photo shoot of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the bedroom, the end result is a beautiful interpretation of love and intimacy–an image of lovers vacuum sealed in a plastic blanket. For some reason the project has a much stronger effect knowing that they are actual couples that Hal found in public.
“I want to capture love as it really is and the bathtub is an ideal vehicle to encapsulate the vivid reality in my images. A grand theme in mankind is Love, and I, Photographer Hal, am challenging the majestic theme! Those in power are continually guilty of segregation and discrimination, can we realize peace under such conditions? You who are standing on the earth, no matter where you are, love the person in front of you. From two people to a group, a town to a community, a city to a country, from border to border, the ring of love shall prevail. I have started to create my ring of love in the city of Tokyo, believing that some day a world peace without segregation and discrimination will come true.”
‘Flesh Love’: Photographer Hal’s Vacuum-Sealed Couples [Huffington Post]
