Art That Mattersby Spannenburg.Art
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A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of CHRISTIAN for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, showing a man from behind among oak leaves.

More from the series

ESTRANGED (serie) →
A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of JOEL for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, showing a man surrounded by dense leaves.A black and white conceptual portrait of YANNICK for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, showing a man partially hidden by pine branches.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of SURAINA for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a woman looking through elderberry branches.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of TOOTSI for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a person in drag among large leaves.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of DANNY for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a person with top surgery scars among tall plants.High-contrast monochrome photography of a young man with wavy hair partially hidden by locust tree leaves, exploring themes of home and understanding in ARJAN SPANNENBURG'S ESTRANGED series.
Arjan Spannenburg

ESTRANGED - CHRISTIAN

"A poetic exploration of the internal schism between inherited prejudice and the budding truth of the self, capturing the moment of turning away from a toxic narrative."

The Narrative

Navigating the shadows of paternal hostility

In this poignant chapter of the ESTRANGED series, ARJAN SPANNENBURG investigates the psychological impact of aggressive domestic heteronormativity. Through the portrait of CHRISTIAN, the artist visualises the heavy burden of growing up in an environment where one's emerging identity is pre-emptively labelled as "disgusting" or "abnormal." SPANNENBURG utilises the classic, sturdy oak leaves to symbolise the weight of tradition and the rigid structures of the family unit. The subject is captured from behind, looking away into the dense foliage—a visual metaphor for the years spent hiding from a father’s verbal violence and the internal questioning of one's own right to exist within society.

From the darkness of doubt to the light of acceptance

Die motivering van SPANNENBURG vir hierdie werk is om die kontras tussen vrees en veiligheid binne die huis se "dag en nag" te dokumenteer. Deur CHRISTIAN in 'n staat van gedeeltelike verberging tussen die eikehouttakke te plaas, weerspieël die kunstenaar die onderwerp se reis om sy gevoelens te onderdruk om sy vader se retoriek te oorleef, terwyl hy terselfdertyd soek na die lig van sy moeder se verdraagsaamheid. Soos CHRISTIAN besin oor die skade wat deur sy vader se woorde veroorsaak is: Vanweë wat hy gesê het, het ek gewonder of ek normaal is. Is ek regtig so vuil en het ek regtig geen plek in die samelewing nie? Hierdie werk dien as 'n institusionele rekord van die emosionele arbeid wat nodig is om selfhaat te ontleer. Vir die versamelaar bied hierdie stuk 'n diep, stille krag, wat die oomblik verteenwoordig waarop 'n siel besluit om nie meer na die verlede terug te kyk nie en sy eie pad deur die doringbos te begin soek.

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Visual Analysis

A vertical black and white photograph depicting a shirtless young man with dark, wavy hair, seen from the back and side. He is positioned behind and partially entwined with the branches of an oak tree, characterised by its distinct lobed leaves. His face is turned away from the camera, looking into the dark, dense foliage of the background. The lighting is focused, illuminating the smooth contours of his shoulder and back, while the oak leaves cast intricate shadows across his skin. He appears to be holding a branch, merging the human form with the natural textures of the wood and leaf.

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Year

2022

Genres

Male PortraitureMasculine VulnerabilityConceptualPhotographyMental HealthComing of AgeQueerConceptualLGBT+