Photography by Melanie Pullen
Foreword by Luke Crisell, NYC, 2005
Published by Nazraeli Press, Tucson, AZ, 2005
First Edition – First (and only) Printing
SEALED under Publisher’s Shrinkwrap
INTRODUCTION
“High Fashion Crime Scenes” was printed as a First limited edition of 3,000 copies in 2005 by Nazraeli Press, and quickly went out of print. The unique photographic style and subject material of Pullen excited the public, and her first title by Nazraeli Press, was an automatic hit on the shelves. Although not for everyone’s taste, the material gleaned from Los Angeles crime scene photographs and on-scene work by Pullen, is totally unique. She found actors and actresses, and dressed them up like the crime scene photos, and reenacted the images. Harsh? Maybe…But the public’s appetite for these types of images was boundless, and the appetite for her work found its niche.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
“High Fashion Crime Scenes” is based on vintage crime scene images Pullen mined from the files of The Los Angeles Police Department and The LA County Coroner’s Office. Drawn to the rich details and compelling stories preserved in the criminal records. Pullen began re-enacting these crime scenes, with well-known actresses and models. Outfitting the “victims” in current haute-couture, and then photographing them in her elaborately staged settings. Photographs from this series employ the power of fashion to disguise, distract, and to draw the viewer’s attention away from the otherwise gruesome subjects. In “High Fashion Crime Scenes”, Pullen focuses on both social values and taboos. While purposely taking aim at the media’s exploitation of sex, gender, and violence.
Pullen herself has noted that she targets society’s glamorization of violent acts and crimes by literally re-dressing what are deeply disturbing events, forcing the viewer to then question their own values and observations.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Melanie Pullen (born September 1975) is an American photographer who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Although she was born in New York. Pullen is inspired by geometry, and she loves lines and symmetry. She is most noted for “High Fashion Crime Scenes” which consists of over one hundred photographs based on NYPD and LAPD crime scene files. Pullen’s monograph “High Fashion Crime Scenes” received critical acclaim from Spin. Here, Pullen’s staged photos portray models dressed in contemporary fashions but positioned as the victims. In a return to early, less clinical methods of crime scene photography, Pullen revisits the artistic delicacy once applied to composition, lighting, and drama. Channeling photographers such as Weegee, Jacob Riis, and Eugène Atget. She has had exhibitions worldwide, individually and as a group.
SUMMARY
“High Fashion Crime Scenes” is a hardcover volume with color illustrated coverboards, and a similarly vividly colored dust jacket. This FIRST EDITION (2005), First Printing edition was limited to 3,000 casebound copies by the Publisher. The book measures 14 ¼ x 11 ¼ inches (36 x 29 cm) and contains 53 dynamic colored and deep duotone printed plates, many that span two-pages of heavy stock unpaginated pages. No expense was spared by the publisher in the printing of this title. There are absolutely no defects to report with this offering, it is in AS NEW/MINT condition, just as received from the Publisher. It has been stored over the years in a plastic sleeve, despite being sealed in publisher shrink wrap, in a clean air, humidity and temperature controlled environment since we received it upon publication. The title has never been owned by anyone, or any store, other than ours.
This title is long out-of-print and copies in this auction in represented condition are extremely scarce. I use a professional shipper for all packages, so you can be sure what you purchase will arrive in the condition it is represented at the sale. Please ask questions about his title BEFORE you purchase and read disclaimers as stated in the auction. The authenticity and legitimacy of this title is guaranteed.
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