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Naked bodies twisted and entwined represent a modern take on the classic nude (NSFW)

French photographer Olivier Valsecchi's new 'Drifting' series is a journey through art history. Each picture merges the tradition of the reclining nude with the still life painting genre of Flanders.

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Pale nude figure twisted and arched over a dark surface, head down and limbs arranged in a contorted pose against a black background

Faithfully devoted to his chiaroscuro approach of light, straightforward sense of composition and muted colour schemes, Valsecchi replaces baroque floral arrangements and the overlapping motif of Memento Mori by pale bodies, in order to create what he calls a "Flesh Vanitas".

'Drifting' is a mediation between Valsecchi's previous 'I Am Dust' project, and sculptural Klecksography series. He said: "Still-life was the perfect fit for a post-war atmosphere. Beyond symbolising the ephemeral nature of life, it relates to the notion of transitioning. I wanted to set bodies into an unfamiliar environment and infuse them with a feeling of disorientation, as if recovering from trauma or stuck in vertigo."

To see more from Valsecchi, visit his website. He is represented by Opiom Gallery.

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Pale reclining figure twisted dramatically backwards on a dark platform against a black background, limbs curved in an contorted pose
A nude figure reclines on a dark surface with limbs extended, wearing a bracelet, against a black background in chiaroscuro lighting
A reclining male figure draped across a dark surface, illuminated with dramatic chiaroscuro lighting against a black background
Two pale sculptural forms of intertwined nude bodies arranged on a dark surface, alongside a dark bronze curved form, against a dark background
Reclining nude figure lying across a dark panelled surface with arm draped across body in Olivier Valsecchi's Drifting series
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