Senta Simond, Rayon Vert

Senta Simond’s work is a graceful examination of gesture first and body second. One can postulate about the inducing of external phenomenon such as the Rayon Vert crepuscular green atmospheric event in terms of perception over that of scientific inquest. The Rayon Vert event historically is linked to the halo effect of a green aura that surrounds the sun at both sunrise and sunset. Eric Rohmer in his film of the same name uses the phenomenon as a metaphorical tool in which the protagonist Delphine searches for a rare meteorological phenomenon which doubles as a search for interpersonal connection. It is perhaps this status of connection that is also extraordinarily employed in the images Simond creates.

Portraiture and the photography of the body is a highly nuanced fair when desire is removed. It is work that requires a scalpel in the form of a lens as to bluntly carve through making such an image cuts jugular veins without precision. The green bell pulsing under the skin of a sitter’s neck must be accounted for and the reciprocity of making such an image requires a very delicate hand and eye.

Simond’s ability to pose the model and render her gestures in minute iterations of pure form is part of a successful technical skill, but also a psychological collaboration based on trust and a search for an outcome, a special relationship between two distinct individuals in which the quest to map the body are seen as a parallel endeavor to map the skies above, every detail scrutinized to understand one’s own position under its embrace.

Text by Brad Feuerhelm.