I am interested in exploring alternative ways to present, interact with, and consume photography as a way to activate and facilitate the dialogue between the artwork and the viewer. “Behind a Little House” is an intimate participatory art project which can only be accessed through the pages of an artist book and chooses to sacrifice dissemination (large-scale web 2.0 approach) to reclaim a physical connection with the audience. I wanted the viewer to start as an outside observer, a spectator, and then suddenly realize that they can participate – the eight (5-2-1) wall mounted photographs lead up to the artist book where everyone is invited to contribute by drawing on the last photograph sheared on each page, giving impromptu co-authors the freedom to shape the direction and the content of the artwork. Text, photographs and drawings provide a framework to the interpretation of the artwork until external contribution starts to add to the dialogue. The project – with its open ended narrative – intends to start a conversation with the public; its nature is purposefully left mutable, open to chance and to change.
Manuel Cosentino (b.1980, Italy) studied at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome before moving to London where he worked as a Visual Effects Artist in the film Industry. After contributing to several movies including Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix and Narnia Prince Caspian he moved back to Italy to pursue his love for art and focus solely on photography. His work has been shown at Galerie Huit during and alongside “Les Rencontres d’Arles”, France; the Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga, Italy; the Museo Civico G. Fattori, Italy; Klompching Gallery, New York; the Royal Photographic Society 155th International Print Exhibition, London; NoFound Photo Fair, Paris; and the Photo Center North West, Seattle. Most recently he has been invited by Franco Fontana to exhibit in “Quelli di Franco Fontana” at the Pantheon di Mirafiori, Torino, Italy. In recognition of his work he has received several International awards. Recently he was the recipient of the Premio Combat Prize (including an $8,000 Purchase Prize) Italy, was a Huston Center for Photography Fellowship Top 10 nominee (juried by W.M. Hunt) and was shortlisted with the jury’s appreciation at the International Emerging Artist Award, Dubai. His work is in the permanent collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
