Murmurings of the Skin is a photographic exploration of the human connection to the body. The starting point for the work was Olivia Arthur’s own pregnancy and the project developed to encompass series about physicality and sexuality, stability and robotics, touch, gesture and solitude. The photographs, made over eight years, range from intimate and sensual portraits alongside those of robots and people engaging with technology—challenging notions of what it means to be human.
“For the past few years I have been making work about the relationship that we have to our bodies as humans. The work grew out of a fascination I developed after being pregnant and feeling my body as a machine performing an incredible task. I went on to explore intimacy, touch, physical connection, stability and the ways we use technology to enhance all those things. It became quite a journey that ended up taking me to make intimate portraits, create Muybridge-style motion series and find emotional connections with robots. Ultimately though the work is about people, our inner strength and our never-ending need for physical closeness.
A book of the work is published late 2024 by Void.
Parts of this work have been shown at Focus Festival Mumbai, Brighton Photo Biennale, ICP in New York, Fuji X-Space in Shanghai and the Mattatoio Museum in Rome.
In 2021 I gave a TED talk about the intersections of humanity and technology.”
Olivia Arthur.
22,5 x 28 cm
160 pages
1500 copies
Softcover with dustjacket
ISBN 978-618-5479-37-4
Murmurings of the Skin is a photographic exploration of the human connection to the body. The starting point for the work was Olivia Arthur’s own pregnancy and the project developed to encompass series about physicality and sexuality, stability and robotics, touch, gesture and solitude. The photographs, made over eight years, range from intimate and sensual portraits alongside those of robots and people engaging with technology—challenging notions of what it means to be human.
“For the past few years I have been making work about the relationship that we have to our bodies as humans. The work grew out of a fascination I developed after being pregnant and feeling my body as a machine performing an incredible task. I went on to explore intimacy, touch, physical connection, stability and the ways we use technology to enhance all those things. It became quite a journey that ended up taking me to make intimate portraits, create Muybridge-style motion series and find emotional connections with robots. Ultimately though the work is about people, our inner strength and our never-ending need for physical closeness.
A book of the work is published late 2024 by Void.
Parts of this work have been shown at Focus Festival Mumbai, Brighton Photo Biennale, ICP in New York, Fuji X-Space in Shanghai and the Mattatoio Museum in Rome.
In 2021 I gave a TED talk about the intersections of humanity and technology.”
Olivia Arthur.
22,5 x 28 cm
160 pages
1500 copies
Softcover with dustjacket
ISBN 978-618-5479-37-4
