THE BIENNALE OF VENICE – DIRK BRAECKMAN

Every two years, the Biennale di Venezia is held in the city of love and canals. This Art fair plays an important part in the research and promotion of new trends in Art, Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Music and Theatre. 51 countries are represented by an artist of their choice, most of them in their own pavilion at the Gardini complex, or in the Arsenale venues. This year, photographer Dirk Braeckman is representing Belgium. Curated by Eva Wittockx, he brings an exhibition that keeps you guessing: his dark, mysterious pictures stand alone, and no story is revealed.

The work of Braeckmans consists of analogue photographs with themes such as nature, nudity and objects from daily life. The work in the dark room plays an important role for Braeckman. There, the artist experiments with darkness and shades. Through his analogue photography, Braeckman has developed a visual language that contemplates the act of viewing and the status of the image. The centre piece of this exhibition is a perfect example of how the artist experiments in the dark room. The image of the breaking wave is printed three times; a variation on a theme.

The exhibition is at the biennale in Venice until 26/11 in Venice, after that it will move to the M. Museum in Leuven and to Bozar Brussels.

N.P.-M.V.-05 2005,in courtesy of Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp

Left: unique campaign image for the exhibition Jewels of Light in 2013, curated by Jan Hoet
Right: F.E.L.S. #1 2010 on exhibition view at the Belgian Pavilion.

Exhibition view with in the middle the centerpiece of the exhibition. The three-piece work exists out of different print methods of the same image.

Left: B.O.-D.F.-17, in courtesy of Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp.
Right: B.D.-P.L.-95-01 2001

Exhibition view at the Rose Gallery, Santa Monica California .

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WORDS STEPHANIE DE SMET