Agenda
Seeing a photograph freshly printed generates a thrilling yet charming emotion. On the fresh paper, while a soft, sweet chemical smell still lingers on the print. The fresh light glistening on the gloss paper. Yet, it is that glisten that creates the barrier between the reality in the photo and the reality at that precise moment. That is one of the joys of shooting film. Dirk Braekman plays on this distinct reality of analogue photography. By underlining the playful aspect on reflections and shadows this photographer creates an alienating feeling between the photo itself and the spectator. In this collection of photos there is an eerie feeling of a lost photographer, who snapped this picture with an alarming intensity. With the contrasting colours a vigorous apprehension surfaces when staring at the series. For example, his photograph of a woman in a trance allows the spectator to ask was it this the flash, a bright urge of colour that created this outcome? It is a real process of hard work that Dirk Braekman presents through his analogue photography, processing them himself to gain the precise amount of over and underexposure to enhance the character of his photos though nuances of grey. In a space that gathers these photos together, the pavillon gives a perfect opportunity to discover these prints in a unique setting bringing attention to a unique feeling of tranquility upon the variety of grey nuances.
© Dirk Braeckman – Courtesy of Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp
