What's the opposite of the passive reclining nude? This photography duo is challenging art clichés

Saty Namvar and Pratha Samyrajah have the same goal: to rethink some of the clichés found in traditional representation of the nude in art.

Saty Namvar and Pratha Samyrajah's photos rethink traditional representations of the nude in art

Jess Hayes · CBC Arts · Posted: Jun 02, 2017 5:43 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 2, 2017

What's the opposite of the passive reclining nude?

8 years ago

3:44

This photography duo is challenging art clichés.

Currents and Clichés is the first show of personal work from the international commercial photography team Saty+Pratha. Creative and romantic partners Saty Namvar and Pratha Samyrajah shoot with two cameras, but with the same goal: to rethink some of the clichés found in traditional representation of the nude in art.

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If you look throughout art history there's always women lying down naked, looking kind of passive. Like 99% of it's painted by males.- Saty Namvar

Working with clients in the fashion and corporate world has sharpened the team's skills towards the complex and delicate production and processing of images. But in this show, they put their skills towards an aesthetic end. Instead of removing scars and stretch marks, they've added arms or exaggerated details — changing the focus and the motivation of the captured female body.