The more you look at Anthony’s sinister scenes, the more puzzled you become. What are these women and children doing? Or more to the point, what have they done?” Chris Anthony’s series of photographs titled “Victims and Avengers” catches the eye with his minimalist approach, unnerving scenarios and moody sense of colour. He has created a foreboding arena, filled with dark narratives and a ghostly cast of characters. His composition is well thought out, each figure strategically placed for impact. The wide angle provides a sense of separation between the viewer and the subjects, reminiscent of the theatre. His use of muted colours, coupled with crimson accents and spotty saturation enhances the ghastly mood of his pieces. The figures seem weightless and ethereal. While rich textured backgrounds set the stage for his sinister narratives to play out in this intriguing and melancholic world, these beautiful, thought-provoking photographs show him to be an extraordinary artist with a flair for macabre imagery. The interiors contain just a few objects: a doorway, an elaborately framed portrait, and the legs of a man, presumably dead. A hint of blood will always appear in Anthony’s images, and here, the man’s shoes are stained red.
These pictures deal with domestic violence and the scenes depict the final straw. They’ve taken vengeance into their own hands and murdered their husbands or fathers. In depicting the aftermath of revenge, Anthony has chosen to portray the moment of release, the calm after the storm.
