Tyler Shields: A Facade of Photography

Champagne drinking and cake eating... 18century France as envisioned by photographer Tyler Shields.

Working with some of Hollywoods starlets, the work presented is as flat as the Hollywood sunsets in California.

With the soft focus of the camera and the man made fabrics, this show is what some critics would describe as, rubbish.. 

When art is progressing with the need of social messages and ideas beyond the dream scape, Shields representation of  Marie Antoinette's decadent existence, is not a portrait from that society, but a reflection on the grotesque society we live in now- where these kinds of works hanging on vulgar Russian oligarchs or bankers walls.   

What Shields seems to have missed when presenting this body of work in London, is that the European market has extreme pride and knowledge of the classics, how ever incorrect the behaviour of the elite was.

​So presenting these images representing European classic grandure, in any way less than a true authentic depiction, or with a contemporary narrative,  is just a poor and cheap photo copy. 
 
‘Decadence’, in collaboration with Imitate Modern, is open now until 24 February at Maddox Gallery, 9 Maddox Street, London W1S 2QE. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm.

Article: Christopher George