Olivia Arthur

‘Murmurings of the Skin’

by Olivia Arthur, published by Void.

from €50.00

“I’m fascinated with the idea of physicality and of trying to find a way to capture the energy running through people’s bodies, the feeling of skin touching skin. Though the work looks at technology and its achievements, ultimately it is about people, love, the power of the body and strength of the mind, and our never-ending need for physical closeness.”

Olivia Arthur

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Murmurings of the Skin

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.

“It’s rare to see an artist so actively observe the underlying connectors of their creative flow and map the relationally that has been recurring and reconfiguring over time. Olivia beautifully constellates imagery drawn from multiple sources into a call and response that us humans share – of our intimacies and our physicality.”

Charlotte Cotton

Arthur began the work in response to her first pregnancy and the feeling that her body had suddenly become public property—concurrent with a developing fascination with its innate machine-like ability to form a child. This transformation established an interest and curiosity in exploring more broadly our relationship to our bodies—what it means to feel comfortable in one’s own skin, about the importance of touch and intimacy, and what we are able to do to replicate bodies with technology.

The photographs in ‘Murmurings of the Skin’ are united by a focus on texture, movement and skin. Images of Arthur’s pregnancy and two daughters are interspersed with those made in Mumbai exploring gender and sexuality, intimate portraits made in Rome during the Covid-19 pandemic, stills of an amputee ballerina presented in an Eadweard Muybridge-like motion sequence, portraits of a child robot, and of those who have contemporary technology incorporated into their bodies following illness or loss. The book is not ordered around place and time but goes on a journey of exploration with the photographs providing a visual framework for the viewer to explore the human relationship to the body.

The Collector’s Edition

Limited edition of 10

Olivia Arthur – Murmurings of the Skin COLLECTOR'S EDITION
€750.00
Ruuun! Not many left.

The ‘Murmurings of the Skin’ Collector's Edition by Olivia Arthur is a limited release of just 10 copies, each presented in a handmade screenprinted hardcover portfolio. This exclusive edition features a Giclée print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl paper, signed and numbered by the artist. The print measures 30.5 x 40.6 cm (12 x 16 in) and is part of a limited edition of 10 prints plus 2 artist's proofs (APs). Each set includes the standard edition of the book ‘Murmurings of the Skin’ with a Riso-printed Obi and a certificate of authenticity, making this a special object.

Murmurings of the Skin

22,5 x 28 cm
160 pages
1500 copies
Softcover with dustjacket

ISBN 978-618-5479-37-4

Collector’s Edition

Limited edition of 10 copies
With Giclée Prints numbered and signed by Olivia Arthur
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl
Print dimension: 30,5 x 40,6 cm (12 x 16 in)
Edition of 10 + 2 AP
+ Certificate of Authenticity

Olivia Arthur

Olivia Arthur is a renowned British photographer and former president of Magnum Photos (2020–2022). Known for her intimate and thought-provoking work, she often explores themes of cultural identity, gender, and the intersection between East and West. Her projects span across continents, with notable works in India, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. Arthur is also a co-founder of Fishbar, a photography space in London, where she continues to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.

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