Barbara Cole is a pioneer of underwater photography. Her skillful use of water and light manipulates the boundaries of reality, creating a dream world in which emotion and time merge.
The transformation of the human figure—whether she clothes her models in anonymity or manipulates their sense of gravity—is the central motif of Barbara Cole’s distinctive photography. The celebrated artist is often called an inventor, and her technique has become legendary.
Her new illustrated book Barbara Cole - Between Worlds is an intense exploration of time, place and identity. Her images tell vivid stories that evoke different emotions in every viewer.
Barbara Cole's background in fashion and fashion editorial work is also evident in her photographs. Through her expert use of costumes and backdrops, she creates an atmosphere suspended between dream and reality. Cole’s artistic practice is rooted in her own underwater studio and darkroom.
Often described as an inventor, Cole uses a raw, hands-on photographic process that reflects her belief in photography’s nearly limitless possibilities.
Since the early ’80s, she has channeled her appreciation for the camera itself. She engages with the history of photography by moving away from automatic cameras and techniques. Barbara Cole uses photography to explore ideas of time, place and identity.
Across her many series, Cole repeatedly asks: how do you create a timeless image? How do you capture the feeling of weightlessness?
Her ethereal photography takes on a distinctly painterly quality, with the transformation of the figure as a dominant theme. Although she works with traditional photographic media, Cole’s approach and aesthetic have moved closer to those of a painter over the past thirty years.
The artist’s work centers on powerful narratives, sometimes shaped by external motifs and sometimes by intense transformations of the figure that tell a story in their own right.
Barbara Cole was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1953. Her work is held in public and private collections and exhibited worldwide, including at the Canadian embassies in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo.
Throughout her career, Cole has worked internationally on commercial projects and large-scale art commissions, including installations for the breast cancer center at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and Trump Hollywood in Florida.
Cole has received prestigious awards, including the Grand Prix at the Festival International de la Photographie de Mode in Cannes, France.
Language: English. This article refers to the English-language edition.
Barbara Cole - Between Worlds
Pages: 208
Price: €49.80
Publisher: TeNeues
