Blind Date
blind_date is a story created by a collaboration between a photographer, Faber Franco, and an artist, Juan Betancurth. Both creators are based in Bogotá, Colombia, where this collaboration came to life. As Juan explains, “I wanted to explore sculptural objects that will go in the same direction, to see how they will come into play under Faber's particular way to develop his work.” The mutual work enables the end-result to become a hybrid, which feeds from those two distinct worlds. While Juan brings the curiosity of researching themes, in performance art and photography, as objects and tools and the emotion they provoke in a viewer; Faber works with emotions which come in a parallel: the person in the photograph and the world of symbolism leading to create new meanings.
In this photoshoot, Juan and Faber work with Martin Philips, who appears as a model, a performance artist, applying different objects on his body mostly to provoke a feeling within the viewer rather than inside himself. His stare pierces through the image inquiring the viewer what he is seeing, what he is feeling, as an outcome of the silent performance, which we cannot take part in, but only experience through a static frame. In this conversation, we hear from Faber and Juan their take on behind the scenes, the initiation of the project, and their practice.
‘In this particular case, I was challenged by the honesty and simplicity of Faber's work. I wanted to explore sculptural objects that will go in the same direction, to see how they will come into play under Faber's particular way to develop his work.’
— Juan Betancurth
What were you researching or exploring with this work?
Juan: I am interested in finding different relationships between the sculptural objects that I create and the human body. In this particular case, I was challenged by the honesty and simplicity of Faber's work. I wanted to explore sculptural objects that will go in the same direction, to see how they will come into play under Faber's particular way to develop his work.
Some of the elements echo back to Juan’s performance art as Parábola and Paint Brush. Could you describe the initial idea and the way the topic was developed prior to the shooting?
Juan: These two works are part of a large series that I have been developing for more than ten years, based on a study of medieval punishment devices and my observations about social systems of manipulation and control. The sculptural objects that I develop serve as triggers for performances where I mix the results of my research along with the spontaneous reactions from those that dare to use them. I don't develop any specific conversation or rehearsal before the shooting, I like to keep it open to the unknown, leaving any decision to the intimate encounter between object and performer.
Let’s discuss the day of the shoot and the composition of the frames: were there spontaneous shoots?
Faber: Yes, they were spontaneous. We shared a basic conversation a few weeks before the shooting about the model, his body, his measurements, and particularly about his beard. We didn't talk that much after that.
‘I don't usually do collaborations with other artists, but when it happens, I'm the one who approaches the other person.’
— Faber Franco
When two artists, each with their unique perspective, work together, how are the meeting point and the merge of two aesthetics being found?
Juan: I enjoy collaborations in general. In my opinion, they bring new unpredictable stuff to my work. With Faber, our meeting point was the respect we share towards each other's work. We also share similarities in taste and aesthetics, even if our individual results are apart from each other. We worked based on trust, I would say.
Faber:I don't usually do collaborations with other artists, but when it happens, I'm the one who approaches the other person. I first analyze if it could work, based on our similarities or just because of those hunches that tell me if it’s the right thing.
‘Definitely, working with friends was the most valuable thing, because not only was Juan my friend, but also Martin, an architect, a friend of mine, who collaborated with us as a model.’
— Faber Franco
Which moment from this project is most precious to you?
Juan: It's hard to tell. The whole thing was precious to me. Having the opportunity to work with a friend that I admire is a gem.
Faber: Definitely, working with friends was the most valuable thing, because not only was Juan my friend, but also Martin, an architect, a friend of mine, who collaborated with us as a model, without him everything would not have been so great.
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