The “Figures” collection, envisioned by the talented French photographer Manon Deck-Sablon, stands as a remarkable artistic quest to blur the lines between the human body and the environmental setting it occupies. By intentionally choosing naked, anonymized subjects free from any sexual or identity attributions, Deck-Sablon turns these bodies into foundational elements of a larger canvas, skillfully playing with the dynamics of presence and absence, of occupied space and void. These models, through their mere presence in the work, transcend their personal individuality to meld into geometric compositions where the dialogue between the physical and the spatial achieves a profound and captivating visual resonance.

Beyond merely celebrating nudity in its most stripped-down form, “Figures” engages the viewer in a deep introspection on the intrinsic relationship between the self and the space it inhabits. Through her lens, Manon Deck-Sablon prompts us to rethink our understanding of the environment, whether natural or constructed, orchestrating a visual symphony where the strange meets the familiar, where harmony springs from the unexpected. This series is not just an exploration of the human form but also a meditation on our integration and interaction with the world around us. “Figures” invites us to a reevaluation of our perception of space and landscape, offering a harmonious fusion between the abstract and the tangible, between chaos and order, thus awakening a new awareness of the inherent beauty in our symbiotic relationship with nature.

“The Shape of Things” collection by French photographer Manon Deck-Sablon is a bold exploration of the relationship between the human body and its surroundings. Leveraging the skills and sensitivity gained from her education in architecture and landscape, Deck-Sablon crafts scenes where nude, anonymous bodies devoid of any specific sexualization or gender interact with their environment in absurd and poetic ways.

In this series, the models transcend their personal identity to become abstract and disjointed forms. They blend into architectural or natural landscapes, altering the conventional perception of these spaces. The human presence, thus staged, prompts a reflection on our relationship with an environment sometimes perceived as hostile or alien. Paradoxically, these nude bodies and unusual spatial interactions enable a reclamation of urban and natural space, offering new perspectives and breathing life and meaning back into the environment.

“The Shape of Things” invites viewers to ponder on humanity’s place within its milieu and how our presence alters and is altered by the spaces we inhabit. Through her works, Manon Deck-Sablon challenges the boundaries between artifice and nature, the constructed and the innate, unveiling underlying beauty in the simplicity of forms and interactions.

Already acknowledged for her innovative approach, Manon Deck-Sablon has showcased her work in collective and individual exhibitions, as well as various art and architecture publications. Compared to artist Spencer Tunick for her management of bodies in space, Deck-Sablon distinguishes herself through a preference for geometric compositions involving a limited number of models, thus enhancing the impact of each body on the surrounding space.

“The Shape of Things” celebrates the interplay between the human body and the world around it, revealing the power of bodily expression in redefining our relationship with the environment. It is an invitation to contemplate and rethink the dynamics between humans and space, between abstraction and materiality, between chaos and order.