Artist duo Sofie Middernacht and Maarten Alexander at Ingrid Deuss Gallery
Belgian-Dutch artist duo Sofie Middernacht and Maarten Alexander present their new ‘Like today, but more like forever’ series at Ingrid Deuss Gallery in Antwerp from 30 March.
With these vulnerable photographic works, consisting of multiple layered scans of pill boxes, the duo seeks the boundaries of photography and conceptual art. The works' transparency and fragility makes them almost float in space. But behind this seeming lightness hides a melancholic theme. The scanned pill boxes are from a mentally ill relative of one of the artists who needs to take medication every day due to a psychotic disorder. Like a personal processing and acceptance process the scans are built up and analysed layer on layer, as if they were a careful dissection of the subject. The stratification is present both literally and symbolically. By adding several transparent layers between subject and viewer it is as if the works become clearer, like a never-ending problem that manifests itself by a lot of repetition.
Just as their previous series ‘Vulnerable Dimensions — in which choices and the challenges connected with making those choices are key— the skill in the photography, the analogue thinking, the importance of the presentation and the awareness of the viewing are also key in this series. What exactly do we see? Are we voyeurs of an intimate and very personal process? As a spectator you are in a strange position, whereby at the same time a feeling of beauty, fragility, intimacy and vulnerability is evoked.
Abaut Sofie Middernacht and Maarten Alexander
Sofie Middernacht and Maarten Alexander joined forces on a creative level, after realizing they had the same desires when it came to photography. The pair's strength is that marriage of conceptual and technical innovation – one which draws on their backgrounds. While their past academic and professional training were an influence, their collaboration is very much rooted in the now and reflects it in surprising ways.
They force themselves to look at each project differently, and work out how to achieve the best visual outcome for their clients’ desires, whilst still focussing on their signature direction. A shared source of inspiration and experience, often leads to the conclusion that less is more when it comes to directing their subjects but leaves them looking for the boundaries to which they can push their commissions. No stone is left unturned, an unlimited variety of media are used to create a specific look for each and every body of work.
Sofie MIddernacht & Maarten Alexander
Like today, but more like forever
30 March — 19 May, 2018
Ingrid Deuss Gallery
Opening: 30th of March, 7pm
