8350
2009
Todd Hildo's photos in series fragmented naratives tell a story. These naked women sitting in hotel rooms in the dark make you ask questions. Why is she in this hotel room? Why is she naked? Is she a prostitute, or simply waiting for her husband to return? Why is the only light coming from the window? When reading about this series the author wrote that the window light seemed to make the outside world seem like too much to deal with. When i look at these photos i can relate to what the author was saying. These photos make me think that these women are hiding. Maybe they are not too sure what they are doing in these hotel rooms either, but they are alone, hiding from the bright outside world that might not understand them.
His series of naked women in hotel rooms presents more than just a naked woman in a hotel room but it gives me a feel of a bigger story behind it. You're right it makes the viewer question many things about what she's doing and why she is naked in this room.
ReplyDeleteHe talks about the portraits at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg98qwI2Mio. He references Edward Hopper's moody minimalism and describes how the fact that everything in the room is 'a little bit used' adds to the narrative.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the construction of emotional narrative and the interplay between photographer and subject, I find it interesting that he worked with Larry Sultan (http://www.ahornmagazine.com/issue_6/interview_hido/interview_hido.html).
Agreed - these image do suggest something more than what is in the scene.
ReplyDeleteBut do any of you think they are a little gross - middle aged man photographing naked, younger women in hotel rooms? no?
Here is another interesting article about his approach towards photographing women:
http://www.popphoto.com/photos/2008/12/conversation-todd-hido
i dont think they are gross, the women in these photos become like a piece of furniture, but that is what tells the story. Anyone who has ever been used by a man can relate to these photos. She becomes a piece of furniture instead of the beautiful human being that she is. This is what makes you wonder so much what exactly her purpose is here in this hotel room.
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