Senior Portfolio: Jessica Kern: Artist Post 9: Jean Pierre Khazem

Jean Pierre Khazem

Jean Pierre Khazem is a French photographer and performance artist who was born in1968 in Paris, France. Khazem has published work in many fashion magazines and has photographed for various advertising campaigns. Khazem has incorporated photography, video work, and performance art into his work for years. Khazem began displaying his work in exhibitions in 1998.

*I could not find information on his personal life, or schooling.

Khazem photography includes the use of still life and models. When utilizing models Khazem photographs incorporate the usage of full head masks on his models capturing an unnatural surprising vision. In 2005, Khazem’s exhibit, “Ladies in Waiting,” at the Chelsea’s Sperone Westwater Gallery consisted of images of models portraying American First Ladies. Khazem created realistic masks of silicone then obtained the right wig and attire for a model to pose as a First Lady. Betty Ford, Rosalyn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Pat Nixon were all subjects for Khazem’s photographs in the show. Khazem stated in regards to the First Ladies, “They are like the mothers of the American people, kind of … my interest in them is only as historical figures.” Props and performance play important roles in Khazem’s photographs. However, in Khazem’s photographs of the “Ladies in Waiting,” they stand on their own as documentation of a performance. Another well known piece of Khazem’s was his live Mona Lisa (2003), this performance piece featured a nude model wearing a realistic mask of the woman in the famous Da Vinci “Mona Lisa,” standing under a stream of light. This piece received heaps of attention due to the preciseness of how well the Khazem’s mask, wig, and models posture matched to Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”

Khazem’s models are always performers; the photographs capture their performance. Khazem stated, “I used masks because I couldn’t bear the acting of models, the way they always pull the same faces, the pout, the glare, and so on. When people put on the masks, they forget their egos. With the mask, the quality of the human comes out.”

I am interested in Khazem’s work, the way his models (figures) appear so stiff and emotionless. Khazem’s photographs also suggest this playful touch, which is what I am now trying to aim for in my work.

Book: Photo art: photography in the 21^st century, 2007, New York, Aperture

Most recent exhibition: 2008 Teleport Fargfabriken- Fargfabriken Norr, Ostersund

http://www.fargfabriken.se/index.php?tabell=content&id=36

Interview: I could not find one.