Ukranian-born, Philadelphia-based Mark Khaisman manipulates layers of translucent packing tape on light boxes to produce portraits rich with texture and shading. Khaisman hand-rolls each piece of tape and slowly develops the layers to create depth and detail, adding and removing pieces until the light shining through each image is perfect.
Inspired by Hollywood's Classic Era and Film Noir, Khaisman's new series Stills is full of the unmistakable faces of Grace Kelly, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and James Stewart. Although the scenes he depicts are classic and highly recognizable, there is a modern edge in the pixelation of the familiar faces. The geometric quality derived from the grid of layered squares is futuristic and far removed from the smooth, black and white glamour of Old Hollywood.
