Until 10 September, Bildhalle in Amsterdam is showing the group exhibition 'Ocean', in which sixteen artists show work in which they, directly or indirectly, reflect on the subject.
The ocean carries a deep mystery — 95 percent of the ocean is undiscovered, hidden from human eyes. It is therefore not surprising that the ocean holds a deep attraction for artists. Consider the work of British artist Antony Gormley, who regularly places his fragile cast-iron casts of his own body on the beach or even in the water, with a view of infinity towards the ocean. Or the famous maritime paintings by artists such as Turner, Hokusai and Monet. It is therefore no coincidence that many historic artists' communities were located at the sea, arguably the best place to study colour, light and movement.
For centuries, people have been subjected to the whims of the sea, from seafarers to residents of the shoreline. This resulted in a respectful awe of the relentless power of nature. The sea is also the source of all life on Earth. In works of art, the ocean often symbolises mystery, chaos, the subconscious, infinity, tranquility, hope and even truth.
Yet our relationship with the ocean has irrevocably changed over the past hundred years. The age-old respect has given way to a certain contempt, though the threat has certainly not abated — think of the imminent rise in seawater levels, caused by climate change. Where the ocean was once a symbol of mystery and the sublime, the plastic soup and other forms of pollution resulting from capitalism and mass consumption now pose an existential threat to life in our oceans.
In the exhibition in Bildhalle, sixteen artists — including Werner Bischof, Albarrán Cabrera, Jeffrey Conley, Paul Cupido, Casper Faassen, Amy Friend, Thomas Hoepker, Ilona Langbroek, Thirza Schaap and Bastiaan Woudt — reflect on the ocean in all its diversity.
For example, the American photographer Jeffrey Conley seeks out the sublime nature of nature in his work, based on a deep form of reverence and respect. Conley: “For all of us, the Earth sustains our existence. In an otherwise inhospitable known universe, our little blue planet provides us with absolutely everything. I’ve never understood why our societal and spiritual priorities as a species do not overwhelmingly demonstrate our gratitude by placing our planet at the pinnacle of the reverential order."
The Spanish artist duo Albarrán Cabrera, consisting of Anna Cabrera & Ángel Albarrán, searches for the mysterious aspects of the ocean. The artists are known for their extensive technical experiments with Cyanotype, Platinum, Palladium, Silver Gelatin and materials such as pigment, Japanese paper, gold leaf and even tea. This results in hand-printed photos that are all unique.
Through her project Plastic Ocean, Dutch artist Thirza Schaap hopes to create awareness on the topic of pollution. She wants to make us rethink our wasteful use of plastic. While walking on the beach, Schaap will collect plastic that has been washed ashore. In her studio, she transforms these pieces into confronting but beautiful sculptures, that she photographs afterwards. The resulting photos create a kind of clash; between the initial aesthetic appeal of the object and the repulsion upon realising the underlying tragedy of waste on this scale.
In contrast, Magnum photographer Thomas Hoepker captures summer water scenes here, highlighting the pleasure that we derive from the sea. And Paul Cupido seems to visualise dreams or memories in his images, beautifully and vulnerable captured on, among other things, Mitsumata Washi paper.