Salem Arcanum Tarot

This initial series of images is intended to represent the beginning of an ambitious study of the complete deck of tarot interpreted through photographs. Visit SalemArcanum.com to view the entire series

The Salem Arcanum Tarot
Photographic Interpretations of the Tarot by James Bostick

“Arcanum” by James Bostick, interprets the visual and symbolic language of the Tarot. The images and symbols of the Tarot tradition have a rich and ancient history. Bostick has studied and been inspired by these themes and offers this series of photographic interpretations of the complex visual language that is Tarot.

Bostick directed his interest in semiotics, the study of language and symbol systems, towards the pictorial storytelling of the Tarot and embarked on his photographic journey to explore this intertwined visual experience.

Creating “Arcanum”, Bostick is tied to what is possible in his studio. Every image in the series becomes a portrait that tells the human story within each card. In the fantastic world of Tarot, commonly seen as illustrations or paintings, anything is possible. But in the studio Bostick is constrained by the boundaries of the frame and limits of real people as actors. Each work becomes a tiny theater production. The compositions are reduced to the bare necessities and artifacts needed to tell the stories. He does not rely on digital trickery to achieve his vision. “What you see happens before my camera and is captured in its entirety in my studio” according to Bostick. The result is possibly the first representation of the complete Tarot entirely crafted before a camera.

For those who believe in the mysteries of the Tarot they contain personality and attempt divination at the heart of each image. The outcome is a secret language and form of expression uniquely their own.

The Major Arcana