In the exhibition ‘A Kind of Presence’, the human being takes centre stage. Two photographers depict both his presence and absence. Reinforced by the atmosphere of the lighting, the use of colour, and the staging of the image, interpretations are not obvious.
Lisanne Hoogerwerf reflects in her work the disconnected relationships between humanity, nature, and culture. The images are often recognizable: desolate huts, oppressive landscapes, or strange scenes where humanity is absent. Thanks to the lighting and use of colour, the atmosphere is surprisingly not unpleasant, but rather dreamy and picturesque. The fact that you can only guess what’s going on makes her work so powerful, universal, and poetic at the same time.
The photographic works by Nienke Elenbaas have a high aesthetic value, with each image having a lot to say. They resemble stills from a narrative film, but at the same time seem to conceal something or be powerless to reveal the underlying. Each image is freed from its original context, such as the emotions of the present and the past. It is something personal that transcends universality. These stylized figures, frozen in movement, are imbued with an emotion, almost sacred and hopeful.