The Tactile, Sensual Photography Of Paul Phung Focuses On Gesture And Movement

“I would say there’s three main aspects to my work; light, movement, and mood,” the photographer tells us. “These are the fundamentals which I incorporate into everything, and use when creating sculptural work—no matter what the subject is.” In his photographs, Phung puts the spotlight on movement, posing, hands, and bodies entwined. “What I find fascinating are gestures; a slight change of movement whether it’s a hand movement or a body movement, which can be read in many different ways,” he explains. The beauty of photography is that a static moment is captured and frozen in time forever, and yet gestures translate into a language that we all relate to beyond the frame. For Phung, collaboration is the most important aspect of his work, whether that’s with dancers, or models, or other artists. We have previously featured a collaborative project of Phung’s: a series of portraits that champion the photographer’s multicultural background. “I enter most photoshoots with a clear vision of what I want the photo to look like,” he says. “The initial conversation with my subject is important so we can develop a clear dialogue in what needs to be conveyed. There’s always room for experimentation, but communication is key.”