LCN Story: Photographer Chloe Rosser

Subverting the idea of the nude, Chloe Rosser’s work, challenges mainstream conceptions of body image through capturing a fluidity of gender and identity, embracing inclusivity every step of the way. The anonymity and fragmented appearance allows us to focus on the colours in the skin, body hair, marks and contours. The pared back spaces that the forms inhabit are a microcosm that mirrors the boxy containers we live in. In an age when we are saturated with digitally altered and enhanced imagery, these real, fleshy sculptures challenge how we look at the human body. We are left to find the poetry and rhythms of the body in space.

Graduate of Falmouth University, Rosser is represented by L A Noble Gallery. Her recent solo show Form & Function ran from 10 May – 18 June at Photofusion.

What new project are you introducing to your practice and why?
I have solely worked with photography as a medium for creating artwork, until recently when I made two video pieces. My photographic pieces are images of contorted nudes that look as though they could be digitally manipulated, but in fact, they are entirely created through the poses that I put together. People bend and curl in such a way that they appear surreal. The video pieces I made were just like my photographs in the way they looked, except that they were living, breathing images. The movement is so subtle that at first you can’t quite tell if they’re static or not. The breath you hear is that of the models in that moment. I have also just recently created a new body of work, Function, which premiered along with the two new video pieces as part of the show Form & Function at Photofusion.

What was the main motivation behind your application to the LCN programme?
I am a photographic artist and commercial photographer. I wanted to add another skill to my repertoire that I could offer clients, which was capturing video, so I applied for the LCN Video Workshop at Photofusion. I also wanted to know how to work like this for myself, so as to be able to make the video art pieces I had in mind. As a commercial photographer, you often get asked to ‘just shoot a little video as well,’ so it’s great to be able to do that to a high standard now.

What is the most useful advice or tips you’ve been given on the programme so far?
The video and audio skills I learned on the video workshop have been incredibly useful. I had shot a little video before, but knew nothing about working with audio or editing footage. The course was also perfect for me as it was aimed at photographers who wanted to expand their practice into shooting video on their dslr’s. Ideal! I also took part in the LCN Chit-chat event, presenting my work to other LCN participants. Presenting work is so important to be able to do, but it’s always challenging for me, so the more opportunities I can get to do it and improve on it, the better. I have to say, I’m far better at it now then I was a few months ago.

What plans do you have after participating with LCN?
The big project I’m working on at the moment is my first photography book, Form & Function. I ran a Kickstarter campaign to fund the printing costs which was very successful. I reached 103% of my target! Find out more about the project here.