TALKING PICTURES Elena Rendina
Elena Rendina is a visual artist and creative director working in the fields of photography, performance art and animation. With a background in fashion photography, she creates highly stylised and intimate worlds. Sumptuous interiors are populated with props and set designs hand-made by the artist, who humorously subverts and reimagines materials associated with homemaking. Kitchen tools, bedcovers and tablecloths escape their traditional confines and find new worth as valuable tools of creative expression.

Eva in Picasso Blue, Italy 2007
This is a portrait of my younger sister Eva. I have been taking pictures of Eva for almost twenty years. We have a twelve year age difference and we’ve always lived far apart. Taking photos of her kept us connected. For this portrait I have painted her in blue, I wanted her to look like a Picasso Blue Period painting.

Mia. Switzerland, 2007
This is Mia. I met Mia in 2006 on a bus. She had long red curly hair and had a shy expression. I remember thinking 'I need to take a portrait of this person.' I took several portraits of her over the years. In this picture, Mia is wearing a custom-made suit I have sewn out of chandelier crystals.

Charley. London, 2023
Charley. This picture was taken for a shoot for Numéro, for which I created the entire set design too. She is sitting down as if a Medusa made of pink gloves, ribbons, hair and a lampshade is holding her. I like creating props for my shoots. I love sewing, sculpting, painting. Charley was perfect for this, we both like granny-style deco, memorabilia and teddies.

Self Portrait. Switzerland, 2023
This is a self portrait taken in my grandfather's workshop in Switzerland shortly after he passed away. He was by far the most fun person I have ever met. He loved fixing antiques as a hobby. I have learned a lot of technical skills from him and his workshop will always be my favourite place.

Damsel Elysium playing a birdcage, London 2024
Damsel Elysium. The day before this shoot, Damsel shared with me Charlotte Moorman’s work. Moorman was an American cellist and performance artist. Her performances include her playing an ice cello sculpture, television screens and naked bodies.
I created some props for this shoot inspired by her work. For this specific shot, Damsel are playing a cello made out of a birdcage and a fish poacher.
Follow Elena @elenarendinastudio





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