Olivia Arthur’s Murmurings of the Skin, published by VOID, is a captivating exploration of the human body, its intimacy, and its relationship with technology. Spanning eight years of work, this photobook starts with Arthur’s own pregnancy and expands into a broader investigation of physicality, identity, and touch.
The book is an intimate visual essay on the skin, both literal and metaphorical, combining photographs of Arthur’s own body, her daughters, and images exploring robotics, prosthetics, and the intersection between human and machine. The photographs, which move between personal moments and broader social questions, explore themes of gender, sexuality, vulnerability, and the quest for physical closeness.
Arthur’s images are united by a focus on texture and movement. Photographs of her pregnancy and family are paired with those of amputee ballerinas, prosthetic limbs, and robots, raising compelling questions about what it means to be human in an increasingly technological world. The photos invite us to consider the fragility of the body, the resilience of the mind, and the shared human experience of physical intimacy.
“Though the work looks at technology and its achievements, ultimately it is about people, love, the power of the body and strength of the mind, and our never-ending need for physical closeness.”
— Olivia Arthur
Rather than following a chronological order, Murmurings of the Skin creates a visual conversation across time and space. Photographs taken in Mumbai, Rome, and Arthur’s own home in London are all woven together with a sense of universal themes. Each image feels connected to the others, allowing the viewer to reflect on the human body’s relationship to intimacy, health, and the passage of time.
Charlotte Cotton writes, “Olivia beautifully constellates imagery drawn from multiple sources into a call and response that us humans share – of our intimacies and our physicality.” This could not be more accurate — Arthur’s work feels deeply personal yet remarkably universal. It’s a meditation on how we navigate our own bodies in a world that is constantly changing and mediated by technology.
“Arthur beautifully constellates imagery drawn from multiple sources into a call and response that us humans share – of our intimacies and our physicality.”
— Charlotte Cotton
Murmurings of the Skin is an extraordinary photobook. Olivia Arthur invites the viewer into her deeply personal world, yet ensures that the themes explored remain universally relevant. The result is a work that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned. Thought-provoking, beautifully composed, and emotionally resonant, it is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersections of identity, intimacy, and technology.
Publication Details
Title: Murmurings of the Skin by Olivia Arthur
Publisher: VOID | 2024
Pages: 160 | Dimensions: 22.5 x 28 cm | ISBN: 978-618-5479-37-4
Edition: 1500 copies
Cover: Softcover with dust jacket
Price: From €50.00
Collector’s Edition: Limited to 10 copies, includes a signed Giclée print (30.5 x 40.6 cm) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl paper, screenprinted portfolio, certificate of authenticity — €750.00
Website: void.photo
- Images courtesy of Void
