As much as adverts are devised to sell aspirational lifestyles, they also present a reflection of the consumer; their beliefs, values and self worth. When this idea is taken into an artistic space, it is possible to present signs and symbols that begin to reflect social ideas that exist within a particular time and place. This establishes a subjective commentary that reveals truth about the audience and cultural aspirations.
Thomas Albdorf is a photographer that explores this relationship using both commercial and artistic platforms. Although the objects appear in isolation to their owners, the nature of the compositions present indexical traces that create a sense of presence. Materials feature heavily within the composition, creating sculptural elements that feed into the way that the objects carry themselves within the frame. The textured backdrops and supporting set pieces provide clues about the viewer, revealing in layers, the manner in which they live, have lived and aspire to live.
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