Diana Michener
Twenty Eight Figure Studies
(Author) Diana MichenerHow to represent sex as a place of ecstasy rather than pornography? How to transcend the unavoidable physicality of the sexual act, sometimes tender, sometimes violent, to reach what Diana Michener calls "the place of communion ... the unknown, the cosmic"? Michener initially considered depicting live models for this book, yet finally decided to photograph stills from pornographic films, transforming the hyperreality of the sex industry, its tarnished colored gloss, into something more ambiguous, timeless and expressive. The figurative forms of sex are often (just) recognizable in Michener's black-and-white pictures: a kiss, breasts, entangled limbs; but just as often they are not. Bodies are simplified and blurred, seeping into abstraction and darkness, hinting at yet never embracing explicitness. In images both graphic and impressionistic, Michener's self-declared goal steadfastly remains "to transform into the visual what is emotional and mental."
Diana Michener
Diana Michener was an American poet known for her poignant collection "The Ragged Edge," which explored themes of love, loss, and resilience. Her lyrical style and keen observations of human emotion captivated readers and solidified her place in contemporary poetry. Michener's work continues to inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide.