Images of a woman pretending to be dead at popular travel landmarks across the world, as a statement against the ‘selfie’, have gone viral.
Aplty named Stefdies, the social media page provides insight into the surprising images.
‘Stefdies is a photographic performance art series that chronicles a life. Each photo is an “anti-selfie” that strives to get back to the roots of what a photographer was intended to be – a captured moment in time,’ says the page.
Captured at popular locations such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Stefdies images contrast with the hundreds of selfies visitors have on their phones after visitng the City of Love or other famous places.
Her ‘lifeless’ body, with her head facing down and hair covering her face are a stark contrast to the smiling faces and group pictures being captured around her.
Other spots where Stef has ‘dropped dead’, include Walt Disney World and in most photos onlookers are either surprised or continue to go about their day.
Stefdies has gone to great lengths to share her message, including lying facedown on a pebbled beach with the ocean lapping at her face.
What was intended as an artistic statement has developed into a bigger project, which aims to promote a discussion on morality, the function of photography and to stir the viewers imagination.
The artist, Stef is also the subject of the images captured and explains that the images are not set up beforehand and are spontaneous.
‘No special equipment, lighting, or conditions are met. I (the artist) go about my normal day, and if there happens to be a moment or a place I happen to find particularly provoking, I will take a Stefdies photo. That is the beauty of this series, each photo is just a blip in a day. Nothing less, nothing more.’
Adding that she believes photographs are truly just ‘tangible physical proof that I was here.’
Picture: Stefdies, Facebook
