Book Review: Volume 3 by Frank Ockenfels III
Clockwise to left, Head Spin, Time Less, X Heart © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
Volume 3 by Frank Ockenfels offers a unique outlook on his artistic perception of the world, creating highly intimate art that is an echo of the photographer himself. Being one of the most celebrated American photographers, Ockenfels spent more than two decades photographing celebrities, creating album covers, and working for major movie campaigns.
DB Meets Bacon © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
His work goes beyond traditional photography, and his multi-media approach helps him create pieces that are personal, sensual and powerful. The artist's mind is open for experiments and is fulled by his never-ending curiosity, projecting his own psyche onto both the subject and the viewer. The result is mind-altering and captivating. His striking collages amplify the visual statement that they carry, being much more than just a photograph. His brilliant David Bowie portraits are also presented in the book, along with many other striking images like those of Milla Jovovich and Angelina Jolie. Altering these portraits with ink and paint, Ockenfels creates images that are a mirror of his vision.
Milla, © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
Volume 3 hypnotizes the eye with raw representation of the sensitive and aggressive parts of the artist's mind. In what seems like chaos at first, Ockenfels succeeds at connecting his collages and journal entries to produce a single, comprehensive idea. While many of his photographs are portraits of celebrities, the simple, natural aesthetics in these pieces expose them from a new perspective.
DB and the Mannequin © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
Many of these images capture the lines and shapes of the female form, breathing sensitivity and femininity. The gentle erotica of these images is intensified by the deep, subtle light and dark contrast. Such photographs are distinct from his other pieces that include the naked body, where a gentle model stands provocatively and is accompanied by frantic sketches. The drawings themselves can be seen as a variety of things, from humorous caricatures to ominous self-portraits.
Clockwise from top left, Idea #0, Viktoria, Inner Thoughts. © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
Clockwise from left, It's Just a Rabbit, Know!, Peel Back from End. © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
Such differences are constant throughout Volume 3, only making it a more fascinating work. Ultimately, this book becomes a tribute to the collision and fusion that occurs within the artist’s mind, allowing the viewers to become submerged in the Ockenfels' subconscious.
Clockwise from left, Alina's, 1/2, Crown. © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
From top left, 40, Spike, Coffee with Mr. Lynch. © Frank Ockenfels III, from Volume 3.
Volume 3 by Frank Ockenfels 3 is presented by teNeues. More information can be accessed here.
