Plunge
By Charles Pryor
Parallel - d, 2011-2012. © Robin Cerutti. Robin Cerutti is represented by online gallery www.theprintatelier.com, "The New reference for emerging photography on the web."
Isolation is a mixed blessing. Some find solitude peaceful because it cuts them off from the rest of the world. Others hate that same idea of being separated from the world. In Robin Cerutti’s series, “Parallel,” the artist explores this concept of separate worlds. By submerging half of the camera beneath a pool of water and turning it vertically, Cerutti captures division in the landscape reminiscent of a diptych. The subject lies beneath the surface of the water, but it looks as if they are upright and facing a world entirely separate from their own.
The most striking difference between the two worlds are their colors. The world outside of the water usually features a blend of green foliage and bright sunlight. In contrast, the water is almost always a consistent shade of blue. While at first the outside world may seem the sole object of attraction, the way the light plays on the water gives a comforting and inviting vibe. In this way, the water is simultaneously relaxing yet suffocating.
Parallel - c, 2011-2012. © Robin Cerutti. Robin Cerutti is represented by online gallery www.theprintatelier.com, "The New reference for emerging photography on the web."
Each photo in the series depicts its subject reacting to their world in different and unique ways. In Parallel – c the subject floats still and relaxed, comfortable with her situation. Meanwhile, the subject of Parallel – d thrashes frantically, desperate to breach the surface. Curiously, the water in Parallel – d remains undisturbed despite the subject’s vigor. As much as she wants to escape her loneliness, the barrier proves unyielding. Much like isolation, this world both supports those who embrace and torments those who resist.
Robin Cerutti is represented by The Print Atelier. For more information see: www.theprintatelier.com.
Article © Charles Pryor
Images © Robin Cerutti courtesy of The Print Atelier
