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The Endings: Photographer Caitlin Cronenberg Documents Painful Breakups

Huffington Post     First Posted: 06/14/11 08:20 PM ET   Updated: 08/14/11 06:12 AM ET

It can be tough to forget the painful moments surrounding the end of any meaningful romantic relationship. Thanks to a new project by Canadian photographer Caitlin Cronenberg and New York-based art director Jessica Ennis, it may be even tougher.

The pair is collaborating on "The Endings"--a book of photographs of different actresses depicting peoples' real-life breakup stories in artful tableaux. Though the images are based on stories culled from submissions to the artists' site, there won't be any text to explain the visuals, so the effect will be something like an artful picture book about heartbreak. Cronenberg hopes the final product will "evoke as much emotion as a film" (she comes by that desire honestly--her dad is legendary director David Cronenberg).

"The reason we don't tell the audience the story is so they can interpret it in their own way," she adds. Some, she says, "may recognize the feeling in the image as something they have experienced, and then project their own story onto [it]"--and that's precisely the point.

The first set of photographs from the project, which is currently in the fundraising stage, features Canadian actress Christine Horne, and is accompanied by a powerful short film.

Click through to see six photos from the series.

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It can be tough to forget the painful moments surrounding the end of any meaningful romantic relationship. Thanks to a new project by Canadian photographer Caitlin Cronenberg and New York-based art di...
It can be tough to forget the painful moments surrounding the end of any meaningful romantic relationship. Thanks to a new project by Canadian photographer Caitlin Cronenberg and New York-based art di...
 
 
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LivelyLexie
Don't panic.
02:56 PM on 06/17/2011
What a vapid concept. And poorly done, in my opinion.
02:26 PM on 06/17/2011
I think she is over-reacting. With a bed and wallpaper like that, he probably needs a little time in his man cave. Don't worry, sweetie, he'll be back.
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Widespread Panic
To the bang bang boogie, say up jump the boogie
10:35 AM on 07/15/2011
LOL!
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11:08 AM on 06/17/2011
If I hadn't read the description and title of the series, my LAST guess would be that this is supposed to document the end of a marriage! There is no evidence that he (or she?) was even there-what about her holding one of his shirts? Or a photo of them? Something to indicate she is grieving the loss of another...Instead it looks like a scared teenager packing to move out of Mom and Dad's for the first time-or ha! like others have said, a perfume ad! Nice attempt, but next time, somehow include the other party if you are trying to tell a story.
07:44 AM on 06/17/2011
Never has there been a more shallow, self-obsessed, self-pitying culture than 21st-century America. We deserve the whirlwind.
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03:04 PM on 06/16/2011
How about an alternate version where a woman is sitting at a kitchen table with her two children, looking desperate, or next day having to try and find work, and the next talking to her disdainful relatives as they cluck at her saying "we told you so" or the humiliation of having to go to a homeless shelter because she has no job no money and no way to feed her children?
05:46 PM on 06/16/2011
Or a mother taking her kids from their father, smoking four packs a day and going to court to bleed him further when he loses his job and can't pay child support?

Making false accusations in court and having him arrested so she can file for even more support?
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03:01 PM on 06/16/2011
I wonder what the pictures of the men/other partners would look like: 1. sitting in a bar getting %$^ faced? 2. Picking up a stranger at that bar? 3. Taking them to a cheap motel for a tryst 4. Maybe taking TWO to that motel 5. Getting up the next morning and going to work like nothing happened?
10:29 AM on 06/16/2011
a constipated model? this is what divorce looks like? what, men don't experience pain? men don't have feelings? seriously, this is an art piece and art usually has nothing to do with reality but if art wants to imitate reality, try getting some people who look believable. of both genders! and who lives in a designer house!? what about children? are they not affected by divorce?
12:27 PM on 06/16/2011
Men are sex-crazed psychopaths who initiate most divorce and abandon their children without a care.

Wake up, newsaholic, and smell the coffee!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mccord82
Liberal Alabama Democrat-yeah that's right
11:54 PM on 07/16/2011
I'm a man, and I'm none of those things. My father's a man, and he's none of those things. I could go on and on naming you men who are none of those things. Perhaps you just haven't been picking the right men.
07:30 PM on 06/15/2011
the drama would be more interesting if different women had been used.. this one looks like a starter wife.
05:15 PM on 06/15/2011
A correction. I'm the filmmaker who made the video for this project, you have me tagged as "Brian". My name is "Brad Dworkin"

Thanks,

Brad

www.BradDworkin.com
05:46 PM on 06/16/2011
Thanks, Brian.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Amber Troska
I like puppies.
04:13 PM on 06/15/2011
Looks like a feature ripped right out of Vogue. If this were a fashion spread, I might like it more because at least then it wouldn't be pretending to be something it's not.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
OMGWTH
I'm here for the party.
02:11 PM on 06/15/2011
All I can say is, the night my marriage broke up, I was not that pretty. My clothes were rumpled from lying in them for hours, and my makeup was a streaked mess and my eyes were puffier than marshmallows. This is an exercise in self-indulgence on everyone's part.
01:59 PM on 06/15/2011
The "Breakee" looks like she's doing drama school exercises, the pallate is dull and the composition is disjunct and intrusive. All of these adjectives could be applied to the feelings of breaking up, and then these works could be considered "successful". A simple-minded notion has taken hold, that the art that is most boring is the most eloquent representation of boredom. I am now going to execute a masterpiece about blind rage by going apesh*t.
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01:38 PM on 06/15/2011
similitude is pretty lame, you want images of people experiencing break up, heartbreak, impossible feelings, you have to go to a source.... who said it's to be easy access, hiring actresses, I'd say this is more credit to the actresses portfolio, everyone could push the button on the camera.
and just because cronenberg's dad makes movies, doesn't mean her wish to evoke emotions to a certain extent is more honesty than everyone's.
"#ifyouarenotinnovating" what's the point, you can innovate expression, evocation... this is a real YAWN, probly just a link for some other market research or ads public relations machines.
12:53 PM on 06/15/2011
Why would anybody break up with a woman with lips like that?
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MIvoter1231
I don't engage with hateful responders
12:42 PM on 06/15/2011
I have to agree with all of the post I read. Absolutely stupid, pretentious, boring and totally like a Chanel ad. Yuck! (and I like some art photography)