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22 december 2023, Flor Linckens

Julie Calbert and Nicolas Lahoun: an exploration of materiality

Nicolas Lahoun, Biarritz, 2023, DEUSS Gallery | Julie Calbert, 2, 2023, DEUSS Gallery

Until 13 January 2024, DEUSS Gallery in Antwerp is displaying a dual exhibition with work by Julie Calbert and Nicolas Lahoun. Both artists are interested in the materiality of the image, focusing on the physical properties and tangible aspects of photographic works.

The artistic practices of Calbert and Lahoun are marked by a certain craftsmanship. Both photographers create figurative works that also contain a degree of abstraction, creating a fascinating balance between the recognisable and the elusive. In their art, realistic elements are subtly combined with abstract shapes and textures, leading to an intriguing dialogue between the concrete and the conceptual.

Nicolas Lahoun, Nose Ride, 2023, DEUSS Gallery

Lahoun lives and works in Biarritz, a coastal town on the southwestern coast of France, about 35 kilometers from the Spanish border. As a result, his poetic and monochrome images are marked by the sea and moving bodies in and around the water. The photographer has a preference for old cameras, especially 35mm and medium format cameras. On Instagram, he shares very little information about the images themselves but he often details the technical equipment that he used, such as the Makina 67, Nikon F or Yashica mat124g camera, as well as the type of film he used. His practice is characterised by experiments in the darkroom and layering techniques. Lahoun has a great fondness for Japanese culture, reflected in his use of traditional Japanese washi paper, which he applies over a stretcher frame or mounts on wood. It's also visible in his application of Japanese brushes for adhering his works. His creative process is notable for its thoughtful slowness and keen attention to detail. There is room for surprises and imperfections like small tears, stains, and rough edges — and the inherent beauty therein. The resulting images appear both vintage and timeless. The scratches and textures in the image seem to refer to the imperfect and fragmentary nature of memories, but also to the degradation of physical photography as time passes. The washi paper that the artist uses is made from natural fibers and is characterised by its soft and tangible texture. Washi paper is highly absorbent, ideal for ink, paint, and other liquids. In Lahoun's practice, this involves a silver emulsion, after which the treated paper is passed through various baths of developer, stop bath, and fixer, rendering it softer and more fragile, before drying the material to regain its firmness.

Julie Calbert, 12, 2023, DEUSS Gallery

In Julie Calbert's practice, experimentation is key as well: the Brussels-based artist approaches her photographic work almost like an alchemist. She is interested in the disappearing image and utilises chemical treatments and techniques to achieve certain effects. She delves deeper into themes such as memories, manipulation of the image and the medium of photography itself, effectively exploring the boundaries of photography. Speaking to Fotoroom, the artist said: “I take photographs of places and people around me on my travels on an irregular basis, and I only find connections between them at a later point. They are like fragments of the same piece, one that is in constant evolution and subject to the whim of associations. Manipulating the image is just as important to me as making the image itself. I worked layer by layer to reveal new potentials and new reading of the images. The final result uncovers alienated and mysterious representations. The notion of the photographic print leads to an unresolved tension between disappearance and materiality— something powerful and fragile, both elusive and marked.”

The exhibition 'TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN', featuring works by Julie Calbert and Nicolas Lahoun, will be on display at DEUSS Gallery in Antwerp until 13 January 2024. Please be mindful of potential changes in opening hours during the holiday season and always confirm the latest information by checking the gallery's website and social media before planning your visit.

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Flor Linckens

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22 december 2023, Flor Linckens

Julie Calbert and Nicolas Lahoun: an exploration of materiality

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