‘cubs’ by oleg dou all images courtesy oleg dou (above) ‘fawn’, 2009 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

a modern interpretation of an old practice, ‘cubs’ by moscow-based photographer oleg dou is a series of images that draw from the aesthetic and ambience of child funeral portraits. utilizing a muted palette with a stark backdrop, the porcelain-like subjects are morphed to display discerning features of various animals, such as a set of slender antlers for ‘fawn’ and perked-up ears in ‘rabbit’. the result is a whimsical collection of portraits that play into the innocent adolescence of the characters while still maintaining an eery sense of death and mortality.

the choice to transform the children into animal-like creatures was spawned from an unhappy childhood memory of the photographer where he had to dress up as a white rabbit for a party: ‘I couldn’t pretend being happy in front of the camera, I hated being photographed. the image finally reflected my discomfort and my vexation.’ conceived from his sketches, all the costumes shown in the series were tailored by dou’s mother.

‘mole’, 2011 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

‘monkey’, 2009 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

‘goat’, 2009 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

‘pig’, 2010 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

‘rabbit’, 2010 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

‘puppy’, 2010 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

‘fawn 2’, 2010 130x89cm/180x123cm/260x178cm C-print under diasec. image © oleg dou

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