jess landau emphasizes the fragility of life with portraits on eggshells

jess landau emphasizes the fragility of life with portraits on eggshells
(above) ‘matt‘
all images courtesy of jess landau

american artist jess landau underscores the fragility of life with a series of portraits printed onto the delicate surface of an eggshell. using the liquid emulsion technique, landau transfers the nude images onto the interior of the shell, carefully positioning the bodies within the ellipsoid frame. ‘the beginning and the end of our collective experiences are universal, and this fact keeps us connected to one another indefinitely.’ landau describes ‘likewise, our unique experiences define who we are in life separately, as individuals. there is an overwhelming desire to be independent in our culture, while interpersonal connection and a sense of belonging is necessary for survival. this paradox is fascinating, and is the driving force behind this body of work.‘ rendered in only black and white, the hyper-realistic, miniature portraits symbolize both the temporary and the permanent, metaphorically emphasizing that our shared memories and experiences should be nurtured and cradled in the palms of our hands.

‘adam’

‘rachel’

‘nicole’

‘levi’

‘kristen’

‘george’

‘becca’

‘andrea’

‘ally’