Dear Indecision,
I have been debating whether or not to send you this artist's work. I have some reticence about the objectification of women, even in this history referencing meta kinda stuff. But, you know, I want to send you Vera Lehndorff and Holger Trülzsch's photographic work, too, and doubling up on objections/objectifications is, if nothing else, achieving 'more is more.'
But enough of my petty grievances! Suzanne Jongmans has transformed these charmless, noisy, ubiquitous packing materials into ethereal and evanescent stuffs: the plastic and Styrofoam have become a part of "timeless" meditations on light as a symbol of spirituality, and Western ideals of beauty. If you have time, look at all her work, and notice the wonderful cape of brown clay in the one titled Kindred Spirits- Lightness of Being. In the image above, I particularly love the needle in the collar, as if the sitter has been sewing herself into the foam sheet garment.
Vera Lehndorff and Holger Trülzsch's work is another thing entirely. Here, the photograph is still working at fooling the viewer, astonishing us, but also attempting to disappear the figure. Is invisibility a stopping of time? I feel it more as a merging with time, which is a pretty soft negation, anyway. The figure is now melting into the environment. If Suzanne Jongmans is bending the materials and figure to her meticulous vision, Vera Lehndorff and Holger Trülzsch are bending the figure to the ground. I hope you will have the time to take a closer look; note the images of Lehndorff being painted by Trülzsch (here). The zealot might enjoy this bit of fluffily intellectual art writing on fashion model Veruschka, aka Vera Lehndorff. (Conversely, you know who you are if you can't stand being told what to think and you only like to look at the expensive ads and pretty pictures).
Bonus Track! One more related photographic project for you, Eyes as Big as Plates. Karoline Hjorth and Riitta Ikonen and their subjects are perhaps in the act of returning the figure to the matter of earthstuff. Or, perhaps they are nestling them in? Burdening them down? To my mind, these photographs are not remotely objectifying, and I unreservedly recommended them! If you don't look at any of the previous links, please do take a look at these lovely portraits!
