One of Greek history’s “Seven Sages,” Thales of Miletus (c. 625-545 B.C.), believed water to be the beginning of all things, the first of all elements, and the most potent because of its mastery over the rest.
Often referred to as a mythological symbol of femininity, water symbology includes cleansing, healing, psychic potency, compassion and love. Vital for life, water and its undersea gods were celebrated in Plato’s works, Timaeus and Critics, where Athens successfully repelled the Atlanteans, who fell out of favor with the gods and famously submerged, famously known as the lost city of Atlantis.
Underwater mythology continues through the lens of Los Angeles Conceptual artist, Gisele Lubsen, who immortalizes her photographic subjects suspended within a suspended moment, where water meets sky.
Gisele’s underwater photography reveals well-adorned subjects acting out scenes inspired by the ancients, Caravaggio’s Baroque paintings, and heartfelt spiritual musings. (Above: Italian Baroque painter, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 – c. 1656) is one of the most accomplished painters in the generation following Caravaggio).
Gisele’s work is inspired by early underwater photographers, fashion designers and the allure of Greek legends. (Above: 1892, French marine biologist Louis Boutan began his underwater camera research and wrote a substantial book on underwater photography inspiring generations).
Above: In 1938, Bruce Mozart pioneered underwater photography as a promoter of the clarity of water in Silver Springs celebrating daily life as if it existed at the bottom of the sea over 45 years.
Above: Fashion designer Alexander McQueen’s 2012 Spring Collection featured an undersea collection, “It’s all about Gaia, the wonder of nature, the sea.”
Water is Gisele Lubsen’s metaphoric theatre play where mythological characters dance, suspend and float within the finite nuances of delicate motion, weightless flotation and soulful participation.
Wanting to know more, I traveled to Los Angeles and interviewed Gisele Lubsen and share the following: “My intention for my photographic art is to explore heroic themes exposing the delicate relationship shared between dark and light.”
“The water creates a surreal performance exchanged between myself as director, the actors and all of the production support. We all float synergistically within the abyss on a single breath of air.”
“Ultimately, the performance is challenged by the lack of control, foreign environment, changing temperatures and the need for air. I find this to be otherworldly and an opportunity to let the process dictate take over and participate in the image making. The energy lives on within each composition.”
“As I am sharing my process, I realize I’m a true romantic. Witnessing the narrative first hand, it almost develops itself naturally. The underwater stage is dreamlike by nature.”
“I find the aquatic environment soulfully magical, healing, enlivening and a never to forget emotional experience unfolding in real time. I am fascinated by the combination of bravery, vulnerability and honesty which one has to push on and through under the water. I am really thankful for all of the actors, performers and individuals who take a chance and transform the art with me.”
You can learn more about Gisele Lubsen by visiting her contemporary photo artwork here. I understand that Gisele is working on a new edition of antique bubble framed pieces, inspired by her undersea portraiture series. (For further reading please read Gisele Lubsen Underwater Photography).
