Christos Magganas

I am trying to bring together, through a variety of media, different methods of representing the body; to comment on aspects of identity and appearance in relation to gender, race, nationality, sexuality and technology. Some of my early photography used conventional photographic manipulation techniques such as collage and multiple darkroom printing of the male form to comment on the body as a machine and on aspects of male stereotyping.


My interest in this aspect of photographic portraiture has influenced my digital work. There is much debate within the electronic arts at present about the role of the body in a digital era - most of it rather far fetched - but I have done work about cloning, genetics and so-called cyborgs. I am also interested in genetic engineering and the so-called post-human body. I am, however, more interested in the way that social difference has become celebrated within culture and how hybrid forms of art (e.g. music) have attempted to reflect a more multifaceted society and "global village." All this is related to digital technology, the ability to appropriate from many sources and the "shrinking" of the world through communication technologies. I am also interested in the Greek tradition of using stories, narration and myths. Although I am studying and working in the UK, I feel I have the soul of a Greek; hence my interest in Greek mythology. There is a poetry of the language used within Greek myths and music that is an expression of an aspect of myself which is difficult to express in any other way. Also, I like to create implied narratives within my images. My work therefore often takes on the appearance of a staged event. I often start in the photographic studio, and an interest in studio lighting and the construction of an image in 3D space extends into my digital work. I use a range of techniques from photography to printmaking and construct the final pieces using PhotoShop, 3D Studio Max and Painter. The bottom line is that I enjoy creating images from my imagination that draws from the above interests and is rooted in an interest in texture, 3D space and colour and narrative. I am trying to bring together, through a variety of media, different methods of representing the body; to comment on aspects of identity and appearance in relation to gender, race, nationality, sexuality and technology. There is much debate within the electronic arts at present about the role of the body in a digital era - most of it rather farfetched - but I have done work about cloning, genetics and so-called cyborgs.