Essay 567 • Aug 25th 2024
- by Rona Bar and Ofek Avshalom
'Proof of Existence' involves the creation of various characters, each with their unique personality and world, captured in everyday locations and situations. The project's theme is to normalize the weirdness within us, celebrating our differences and showcasing that they exist in all of us; we're all strange characters who are a part of society.
Through our work, we aim to make a social impact by changing the way we view others. We advocate for solidarity, open-mindedness, and greater inclusion and diversity in the media and the world at large.
The project blurs the line between reality and fantasy, combining the documentary and the staged, In addition to the characters the series contains still life or landscape images with the same bizarre atmosphere. The duality between the two emphasizes the fine line between the bizarre and the everyday and raises questions about the characters' stories and identities. The creation process of this project allowed us freedom, being a true embodiment of creativity and self-expression. These characters fearlessly showcase their unique identities and break free from societal norms and expectations.
We hope their willingness to challenge the status quo inspires you to tap into the boundless potential of your own human spirit for creative expression and individuality.
Rona Bar and Ofek Avshalom are a photography duo living and working in London, UK.
Drawing on a storytelling-based approach to the photographic medium, the two are continuously striving to engage viewers from all backgrounds in a journey into their visual world.
Suspended between fantasy and reality, the factual and the bizarre, their universe immerses whoever comes across it in a blend of surreal visions, daily experiences, and artistic references, which all contribute to making their signature style and aesthetic vocabulary so naturally captivating.
With a preference for striking colour palettes and researched lighting techniques, Bar and Avshalom portray life around them through an honest, distinct, and all-encompassing gaze. Leveraging their knowledge of art history and combining it with their natural inclination toward all-around contemporary culture, they restitute a visual rendition of today’s society that is at once poignant and thought-provoking in its nature.
Turning the lens onto themes such as identity, individuality, and relationships, their practice wants to be a mirror for the infinite facets of the human experience, pushing the boundaries of gender, race, and sexuality among others.