Fine Art Publishing
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Tableaux Vivants by Tony Ward, Copyright 2017.
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To see additional Tableaux Vivants by Tony Ward that will be on exhibit at Fikki Beach in Hamburg on December 16, 2017, click here: https://tonyward.com/early-work/tableaux-vivants-1993-2000/
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Artist Statement: From the book of Tableaux Vivants, Editon Stemmle. Zurich, 2002
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My visual dialogue is based on the premise that life is the play – and display – of creation. I agree with Shakespeare that “all the world’s a stage.,” an endless enigmatic production with moments of great joy, sorrow and surprise. Surprise is a magical element that I try to create in a tableau process.
Tableaux are my vehicle. The cast of characters consists of friends, acquaintances, lovers or strangers who enjoy the performance of being photographed. Like the jazz-fusion artist I look for the odd juxtapositions, the unexpected mise en scene or multicultural influences that sometimes creates a new or ambiguous view of the world.
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Photography and Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2017.
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STUDIO NEWS: RECENT VINTAGE PRINT SALE
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This 11 x 14 inch vintage photograph entitled, “Dinner For Two, Philadelphia 1995 is from the book of Tableaux Vivants, published by Editions Stemmle, Zurich, 2002. The archival print was recently sold to a private collector in Philadelphia for $2500.00. It was the only print of its kind in inventory and from a very rare limited edition of prints. The picture is part of a series of Tableaux Vivants I produced between the years 1993 to 2000. This particular photo was staged at the Striped Bass in Philadelphia, once declared by Esquire Magazine as the number one restaurant in the United States for dining at the time. Owners, Joe Wolf and Neil Stein commissioned me to make the photograph for an ad that would later run in Philadelphia magazine to promote the famous restaurants “midnight breakfast”.
To see more pictures from this series, click here: https://tonyward.com/early-work/tableaux-vivants-1993-2000/
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For Vintage Print Sales: Email Tony@TonyWard.com
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Photography & Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2017
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DIARY: TWO GIRLS FROM ST. PETERSBURG IN PARIS
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I was fortunate to meet Natasha on one of my numerous trips to Paris. This Russian born model with exquisite taste selected a finely tailored (French) pink lingerie ensemble with a short red wig that fit her angular bone structure perfectly. It was the late 1990’s, a time in which I was producing a series of pictures for my erotic books and Penthouse Magazine. I met Natasha through a book shop owner that was located in the Marais district. She was already an experienced model by the time we met, having worked with several prominent French photographers I had come to know. Since she was highly recommended by my colleagues, I was confident our collaboration wouldn’t be in vein. Our first meeting was delightful (she spoke excellent English) as we laid the groundwork for what would become several years of collaboration whenever I arrived in town for a book signing, an exhibit or to make new erotic pictures. She was a muse. On this particular visit, I checked in to the Hotel Regina, one of my favorite places to reside in the 1st Arrondissement. I was shooting for Penthouse. No expense would be sparred with regards to hotel accommodations. The suites were expensive, but it was well worth the investment. Bob Guccione, owner, publisher of Penthouse, patron of the arts loved the look of rich, and expensive. He would pay handsomely for that look it if he liked your work and you knew how to deliver the goods.
The suite I reserved at the Hotel Regina featured a view of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre which was just across the street and the Tuileries garden. It had a small balcony where you could step out and affirm that you were in the heart of Paris, as the motorist sped down the famous Rue de Rivoli into the wee hours of the morning. It was a fitting setting for what would take place in the elegantly appointed 19th century decor environment throughout the day between Natasha and her friend from their hometown in St. Petersburg, Russia. Angelina, arrived at the suite with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She was new to the city of lights and if memory serves me correctly, I was the first photographer to photograph her nude since she was new to photographers who worked within the erotic milieu. Angelina was a little timid at first. She felt more confident and at ease with her sensuality when Natasha, an experienced nude model, expertly steered her to the extremes of homoerotic pleasure.
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To see more pictures from this series, open a membership account, register here: http://tonywarderotica.com/category/membership-account/
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To access additional Diary entries, go here: http://tonywarderotica.com/diary-effects-obsessions/
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Photography and Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2017
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A CHANCE MEETING WITH J. ALEXANDER
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I first met J Alexander at Elite Model Agency in Paris in the Spring of 1994 during one of my many visits to Paris during that time period. While I was waiting in the lobby of the agency to meet with a booker to arrange test shoots with models, J walked in wearing all black. He happened to be visiting the agency at the same time and we struck up a conversation while waiting for our appointments. I had a sampling of my work with me and he glanced over my shoulder to gaze and offered a few compliments about the pictures. I was already familiar with his work as a model trainer, as he was already appearing on various fashion related television programs in the states, so I recognized him right away.
We exchanged contact information and a few days later he invited me to his apartment in Les Halles where we had lunch to further discuss the fashion business and how we might collaborate in some way. J. mentioned that he would be in the states relatively soon, so we agreed to meet up again once he arrived state side. During one of his trips to New York, I invited him down to Philly to train a few models from one of the Philly agencies I was working with. It was the first time that I saw J. work with an aspiring cat walker and I was quite impressed with his grace and delicacy in handling fragile model egos.
While I was working on the production of the book of Tableaux Vivants, I asked J. to model in a scene to be staged at a friend’s apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The title of the picture is “Center of Attention”.
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To see more pictures from the book of Tableaux Vivants, go here: https://tonyward.com/early-work/tableaux-vivants-1993-2000/