Contortionism is one of the oldest art forms, dating back to ancient civilisations, and requires years of dedication, discipline and training. Fine art photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten’s Contortion was inspired by feelings of extreme anxiety and loneliness offset by inner strength, humour and fortitude as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Each image embellishes the subject matter in a series of thought provoking narrative “stories” that use staged tableaux and sophisticated lighting techniques. Fullerton-Batten insinuates visual tensions in her images and saturates them with mystique, teasing the viewer into re-examining the picture.

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Image: Julia Fullerton-Batten, Ella Whipp Dance (detail). From Contortion (2021). Lambda C-type print. Dimensions variable.