Thursday May 20, 2004

A Fresh Take on Ancient Olympics

NEW YORK - Many people only think about the Olympics every two years as the Games get under way, but for Martin Cooper, a Burberry design executive and a photographer, they're something of an obsession.

For eight years, Cooper has been developing "The Altis: Portraits of the Immortals," a photo project inspired by the ancient Greek Olympics. "I have always had a thing for antiquities," Cooper said during an interview at the studio and showroom in Manhattan's financial district that he shares with his wife, accessories designer Karen Suen Cooper.

Martin Cooper, also a CFDA member, has meticulously studied the Games to create his series. Many of his mostly nude images incorporate ancient symbols, such as a bow and arrow, feathers or a discus. With their dramatic lighting and deep tones, the prints have a mysterious and moody feel. But there's one big difference in Cooper's take on the ancient competitions: "Women weren't allowed to participate in the Games, which I think was a huge injustice, so by casting the project only with women I address those inequalities," he said. The term Altis comes from the Greek name for the sacred olive grove where the ancient Olympics took place, Cooper said.

The project is broken into categories, each showing a different element of the Games. For example, the preparation photos depict athletes getting ready for their sport, while the event photos show models in various athletic poses. The project, which comprises about 250 photos, has been on display around the world and is now being shown by appointment at the Jayne H. Baum/JHB Gallery in New York.

What began in 1996 as a photographic project has morphed into other mediums. Altis inspired a dance work by Boston Ballet choreographer Rebecca Rice in 2002, for which Cooper designed the costumes. "I also want to turn this into a book to show the breadth of the series," he noted. "And it could make a great fine art film."
- M.K.