Yana B ‘Dirante‘ by Tony Murano
It’s a rare artist who exists in a vacuum. Even the most isolated, monastic artist has been exposed to the work of other artists at some point, and that exposure can’t help but influence his or her own work. Indeed, studying the work of other artists is one of the most fundamental ways in which an artist learns and grows. Perhaps you’ve heard of writers who transcribe passages written by Hemmingway in order to develop a finer understanding of his signature structure and style. And painters will attempt to copy the work of the great masters, emulating their technique while refining their own.
In the Met Art erotic photo series “Dirante” we find Luca Helios borrowing a page or two from Tony Murano’s style book. Taken simply as an exercise, this is an intriguing proposition, as these two photographers have distinctly different styles. When I think of Helios I immediately imagine photos shot at a coastal location in a natural style. While Mr. Murano’s work is generally the product of a studio setting with highly stylized theatrical elements and a particularly strong explicit component. Here the lighting is subdued, candles burn low in the background and Venetian blinds cast their shadows across many of the images. And explicit poses and close-ups are prominently featured. When the model drapes a string of crystal beads across her sex we can easily imagine Tony Murano nodding with recognition and approval.
The subject of these photos, Yana B, brings her own drama to the series. She has a strong face and a shapely body, and she is generous and uninhibited in her presentation. The very first shot in the set, a headshot in profile, presents her structural beauty as well as the moody style of the set quite eloquently. Even in this moody setting Yana manages to stay relaxed and doesn’t take things too seriously — when she smiles it’s natural, spontaneous, and enjoyable (see #005, #031, and the invitingly explicit #0037). Additional highlights include #041 for Yana’s bedroom allure, and #044, a beautiful, understated standing full-body shot. “Dirante” is a short series (it contains just 61 photos) but it’s an intriguing stylistic experiment.
Her profile: Yana B
Art Nude Models: Met Art information.
