OTHERNESS
Photography by
Stefano Bernardoni
Eli Dijkers
Rabban
6th - 27th February 2016
Lane House Arts Gallery, Bath
The second in our gallery takeover series, Otherness is curated by guest artist, photograper Rabban.
For a long time, I have been attracted by the dark, surreal and weird. Among all of the work I looked at, STEFANO BERNARDONI has remained a constant influence since I began taking photos six years ago. I was ecstatic when, all these years later, I contacted him to see if he would be interested in my exhibition, and he agreed. His work intrigues me because of its mystery, and dream-like nature.
There is often a figure seen in his photos, but obscured, at a distance, blurred. As Stefano explains, his photographs are a personal inner vision he has of the world, 'inner photography' as he has named it. I see his work as being taken from the point of view of an outsider, estranged from the world, recalling half-remembered moments.
How lucky I was to find a master such as ELI DIJKERS in the world of social media. By chance I saw him post a link to his website, followed it, and was stunned by the bold monochrome images.
In contrast to Stefano, with his soft, blurry, dream-like edges, Eli uses harsh contrasts between his blacks and whites, creating raw, striking images. The faces of people he photographs are something that immediately clicked when compared to my own photography. In an abandoned building, the fog, the darkness, using the distortion through glass or through water has given his photos an otherness that draws me to surreal photography.
Rabban February 2016
There is often a figure seen in his photos, but obscured, at a distance, blurred. As Stefano explains, his photographs are a personal inner vision he has of the world, 'inner photography' as he has named it. I see his work as being taken from the point of view of an outsider, estranged from the world, recalling half-remembered moments.
How lucky I was to find a master such as ELI DIJKERS in the world of social media. By chance I saw him post a link to his website, followed it, and was stunned by the bold monochrome images.
In contrast to Stefano, with his soft, blurry, dream-like edges, Eli uses harsh contrasts between his blacks and whites, creating raw, striking images. The faces of people he photographs are something that immediately clicked when compared to my own photography. In an abandoned building, the fog, the darkness, using the distortion through glass or through water has given his photos an otherness that draws me to surreal photography.
Rabban February 2016
STEFANO BERNARDONI
Born in Monza, Italy, Stefano actively began to take photos in the early 1990s. His work is an intensely personal and unique vision of the world around him.
He prefers to work with black and white film in order to have total control of all technical aspects: from the actual shot to the final print. Working in this medium also reflects his inner vision.
He has exhibited in galleries in Italy and abroad in both group and solo shows; his work has been published internationally and he has won several prestigious awards. Stefano teaches in Photographic Associations; in schools; prepares and teaches in workshops and has his own school www.bottegaimmagine.it in which he teaches his way of "seeing" the world through the lens.
He has recently started to use digital cameras.
www.myworks.it
Born in Monza, Italy, Stefano actively began to take photos in the early 1990s. His work is an intensely personal and unique vision of the world around him.
He prefers to work with black and white film in order to have total control of all technical aspects: from the actual shot to the final print. Working in this medium also reflects his inner vision.
He has exhibited in galleries in Italy and abroad in both group and solo shows; his work has been published internationally and he has won several prestigious awards. Stefano teaches in Photographic Associations; in schools; prepares and teaches in workshops and has his own school www.bottegaimmagine.it in which he teaches his way of "seeing" the world through the lens.
He has recently started to use digital cameras.
www.myworks.it
ELI DIJKERS
Born in 1978, Eli graduated from the Academy of Photography in Rotterdam, the Netherlands after having studying Pharmacy and gaining his Phd.
His photographic work is intuitive, raw, yet very connected and always about people. He finds his subjects in the public space or in their own personal living environment. In 2013, during a workshop in Paris led by Michael Ackerman, Pauline Vermeer of the International Centre of Photography in New York said of Eli:
"Eli’s portfolio is a stunning ensemble of eclectic but cohesive photographs. Technically, visually and psychologically, this series bring a lot to the viewer. I appreciate that Eli left us, the viewers, alone with images only, and no words at all. The photographs are powerful enough that we do not need any subtext to read them. All in all I want to congratulate Eli for a very good work. A brilliant catharsis for the viewers, a dark but enjoyable trip…"
www.elidijkers.com www.deelenart.nl
Born in 1978, Eli graduated from the Academy of Photography in Rotterdam, the Netherlands after having studying Pharmacy and gaining his Phd.
His photographic work is intuitive, raw, yet very connected and always about people. He finds his subjects in the public space or in their own personal living environment. In 2013, during a workshop in Paris led by Michael Ackerman, Pauline Vermeer of the International Centre of Photography in New York said of Eli:
"Eli’s portfolio is a stunning ensemble of eclectic but cohesive photographs. Technically, visually and psychologically, this series bring a lot to the viewer. I appreciate that Eli left us, the viewers, alone with images only, and no words at all. The photographs are powerful enough that we do not need any subtext to read them. All in all I want to congratulate Eli for a very good work. A brilliant catharsis for the viewers, a dark but enjoyable trip…"
www.elidijkers.com www.deelenart.nl
RABBAN
Born in Shropshire and now based in Bath, Rabban studied Creative Writing & Photography at Bath Spa University, graduating with an honours degree in 2014. He uses digital cameras and specialises in dark, gothic, romantic photography.
Working closely with the gallery director, Rabban has curated his first show for Lane House Arts. The resulting exhibition is impressively coherent. The images are strong and provocative and contrast and complement well with each other.
We would like to thank and congratulate Rabban for curating his first show for us and also thank Eli Dijkers for all his help and advice.
rabban12.deviantart.com
rabban12.wix.com/darkandromantic
Born in Shropshire and now based in Bath, Rabban studied Creative Writing & Photography at Bath Spa University, graduating with an honours degree in 2014. He uses digital cameras and specialises in dark, gothic, romantic photography.
Working closely with the gallery director, Rabban has curated his first show for Lane House Arts. The resulting exhibition is impressively coherent. The images are strong and provocative and contrast and complement well with each other.
We would like to thank and congratulate Rabban for curating his first show for us and also thank Eli Dijkers for all his help and advice.
rabban12.deviantart.com
rabban12.wix.com/darkandromantic
SELECTED ARTWORKS
