Did you fall for it? The photographic 'stuntman' who asks viewers to take a leap of faith in his art



Flying through the sky, artist Kerry Skarbakka always looks a second away from broken bones or even a sticky end.

His death-defying photos show him plunging from bridges, tripping down the stairs or even - and we've all been there - slipping over buck-naked in the shower with only a curtain to spare his blushes.

Every picture is guaranteed to raise either a gasp of horror or at least a sympathetic exclamation of 'ouch!' - unless, that is, you know the secret of his snaps.

Final fall: Kerry takes the final step from a railway bridge. Luckily the wires keep him on terra firma

For Kerry has a lot of support during his falls - he is literally strung up in place with harnesses and wires keeping him still and secure during the action shots.





The American daredevil has been creating the portfolio of falling pictures since 2002, and has been exhibited across the world.

Slip up: Whoops! One minute you're sitting down to read a book, the next minute you're flying up to the ceiling (note another of Mr Skarbakka's artworks reflected in the mirror)

Kerry has tried to get models to pose for his work - but everyone he's asked has preferred to stay grounded, leaving the 38-year-old with no option but to take the plunge himself.

And with settings including a fall from a skyscraper and plunging from a railway bridge, who can blame them?

Catch me if you can: Kerry 'falls' from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, USA

He attributes his work to philosopher Martin Heideggar, who 'described human existence as a process of perpetual falling'.

He said: 'Using myself as model and with the aid of climbing gear and other rigging, I photograph the body as it dangles from dangerous precipices or tumbles down flights of stairs.

'The captured gesture of the body is designed for plausiblity of action, which grounds the image in reality.

'However, it is the ambiguity of the body's position in space that allows and requires the viewer to resolve the full meaning of the photograph. Do we fall? Can we fly? If we fly then loss of control facilitates supreme control.'

Window frame: Kerry appears to plunge past a startled office worker

More domestic settings include plunging from a step-ladder in the lounge or taking a trip down the stairs - or even simply trying to sit down to read and missing the seat - all situations many of us can relate to.

However these can prove just as deadly as the more dramatic photos, so Kerry takes no risks with his safety.

Shower slip: Kerry slips over in the shower - we've probably all been there, albeit in less dramatic fashion

Do it yourself: Kerry said he tried to find models to pose for his art, but no-one took the plunge so he posed himself

He said: 'It is necessary to point out that I do not consider myself a glorified stuntman; nor do I wish to become a sacrifice to art.

'Therefore, safety is an important factor. However the work does carry with it a potential risk of personal injury as I engage the moment.

Stair-ing death in the face: Again the invisible ropes keep Kerry safe from harm

'This is unavoidable as much of the strength of the images lie in the fact that they are all recorded on location.'