Dean West

Dean West
Palm Springs #1, 2015

Digital C-print on Kodak Endura paper
30 in x 48 in / 50 in x 80 in / 60 in x 96 in, $2,500-$14,500 depending on size and edition

Courtesy of the artist

Using words such as ‘obsessive’, ‘highly competitive’ and ‘looking for perfection’ when describing himself, it’s not surprising that the images created by New York-based Australian photographer Dean West are a feat to produce.  West, a successful commercial photographer, spends up to a year working on and revising an image, scrutinizing every detail, employing a commercial crew – producer, hair and make-up artist, wardrobe stylist, models – and has been known to move home as part of his research.  All to achieve the perfect image. 
  Palm Springs #1 is a typical example of the meticulously choreographed, hyper-realistic scenes for which West is known.  The image is a beautifully staged portrayal of a contemporary relationship that has broken down, the deer a surreal representation of a longing to be elsewhere.  The mid-century modern architecture and the highly stylised imagery create a sense of nostalgia in the viewer, a feeling that this could be a recreation of a past experience, a memory of things past.

Hedge, issue 39, February 2016, pp38-46