Review of Striptease Burlesque Photo Exhibition in Tokyo
The Weekender, Tokyo, Japan
Where Ya Been?
When Paule Saviano was growing up, he wanted to become a bike messenger. We’re glad he didn’t succeed.
At the ripe old age of 11, Saviano took up the camera and never put it down again. He took on every kind of work he could get, but settled into music photography for a long time, touring with Porno For Pyros, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins and a number of other bands until he grew tired of shooting more Stratocasters than people.
But in his show entitled “Striptease Burlesque” Saviano displays his portrait work, and it is here that he shines. The show has a little of both the striptease and the burlesque, and the photos have a wonderfully gritty gloss. All are portraits of models in various states of dress and undress, and in various locations. On his website, Saviano calls his photos a record of where he has been in his life, and those places range from street corners to bedrooms to dimly-lit stages. His colors and images call to mind the bubbles under bright red nail polish, the texture of a velvet curtain. And the wooden sanctuary of Gallery éf should make for a very interesting juxtaposition.
Paule Saviano: Striptease Burlesque (June 1–24) Gallery éf. Asakusa Station. Free. 11am–7pm. Closed Tue. Tel. 03-3841-0442. www.gallery-ef.com
