Exploring Stillness and Transformation in Contemporary Art
The project for Art Rotterdam examines the nuanced differences between the French term "nature morte" ("dead nature") and the English "still life." Works by German photographer Sebastian Riemer and Azerbaijani painter Niyaz Najafov explore these dual perspectives, where "dead nature" reflects decay and impermanence, while "still life" captures a moment of stasis.
Sebastian Riemer’s series "STILLS" engages with themes of preservation and obsolescence through the use of discarded 35mm slides. His meticulous reproductions transform these slides into sculptural photographs, collapsing layers of meaning and illustrating the tension between original art and its reproduction, emphasizing the "dead nature" of analog media. A notable example in the presentation is a slide of Jeff Wall’s "nature morte." Niyaz Najafov complements this with expressive paintings that breathe life into still objects. His dynamic brushstrokes reveal the vitality pulsing beneath the roses in improbable vases that he obsessively paints, challenging the notion of stillness in "nature morte."
Additionally, works by Paula de Solminihac, Alexander Morozov, and Leyla Cárdenas further enrich the theme. Solminihac's ceramic books embody fragility and permanence, while Morozov’s tempera painting "Fleurs de Sorcière" evokes the mystical life within nature. Cárdenas’ textile piece, revealing lichens growing on concrete near a polluted river, symbolizes nature's resilience and resurgence.
Together, these artists offer fresh insights into the timeless relevance of still life and "nature morte," inviting the audience to reflect on the relationship between life, decay, and rebirth