Clive Frost
- Michael Hanna
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Clive Frost is a documentary photographer who has exhibited at prestigious venues such as The National Theatre in London and has won notable awards including a first place prize with the International Photography Awards (IPA). He has been published by major established publications such as Discover, Forbes, Fortune, GQ, House and Garden, The Guardian, The Independent, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. His work has been published in books such as CUBA cubanas y cubanos, Atados al Mar, Places of Interest and Little Importance, Seagulls Are Magic WEST, and 3 Days in December.
Often taking a documentative approach through the study of cultured angles, Clive Frost’s photography captures authentic everyday life of exotic locations such as Cuba, Haiti, or Iceland. His depictions of Cuba and Haiti are particularly poignant in capturing civilizations which are in the Western hemisphere but have been shunned or isolated from other Western nations, assistance, trade, and development. Clive’s photography captures imaginative architecture and cultures steeped in tradition and values such as fine trades of fishing or ballet.
The most interesting photographs in Clive’s portfolio contain the local contradictions of brightly-colored clay architecture with barred windows and doors. Such a portrayal implies despite the rich culture of Cuba and Haiti, there remains deep underlying darkness of crime and violence. Clive’s characters are captured in their natural state, whether sitting on the doorsteps of a home or walking by on their way to the grocery store, the innate normalness of the individuals followed by the unique cultural imagery evokes a deep documentative and authentic aesthetic. Clive’s landscapes also evoke documentative approaches as they seem to capture the natural status reflective of their respective nations, as he seems to have a fascination with textured environments such as mountains, cliffsides, and jagged forms of icebergs. These photographs are more than just a documentary however, they are an expression of individual travel around the world. The beauty of the photography allows Clive to share his visual and cultural experiences with us as he partakes in some of the world’s most isolated and remote civilizations.
Cuba # 4 (pictured above) depicts a stylish man in his rugged Western attire walking past a colorful building with decorative security bars on the windows and doors. Although stylish, his attire appears humble and worn, rather than new. The figure walks down the street with his head down as if to lay low and walks among the contradictions of a glamorized clay building with a heightened sense of elegant security. The piece evokes the repudiations of Cuba with feelings of distinct cultural identity yet deep underlying economic and safety concerns.
Clive Frost’s documentary photography reveals the character of unvisited and largely unknown portions of the Western hemisphere and culture. His distinct cropped surfaces with strong, concentrated compositions leave a lasting impression on these photographs serving as archival historical documents. Decades from now, Clive’s work will not only serve as grand fine art, but also as important historical documents which capture and symbolize the sociological structure of early 21st century developing nations.
