Art That Mattersby Spannenburg.Art
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A monochrome conceptual fine art portrait from the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a person in drag amidst Japanese maple leaves.

More from the series

ESTRANGED (series) →
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.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.A black and white conceptual portrait of JIP for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, showing a man partially hidden by pine branches.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of ZICO for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a man among tall marsh reeds.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of DAMIAN for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a man among bare, leafless branches.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of WILSON for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, showing a man behind a thick tree trunk.
Arjan Spannenburg

ESTRANGED - LUX

"A compelling dual narrative of self-discovery, charting the evolution from a child's clandestine, glitter-filled play to the professional stage of drag artistry."

The Narrative

From the bathroom mirror to the spotlight

In this enchanting chapter of the ESTRANGED series, ARJAN SPANNENBURG explores the intersection of childhood curiosity and adult artistic fulfilment. Through the portrait of LUX, the artist visualises the long-suppressed urge to create and perform. SPANNENBURG utilises the delicate, intricate leaves of a Japanese maple to represent the fine detail and layering involved in the art of drag. The artwork captures the pivotal shift from "hiding in the bathroom" with a sister's makeup to the bold, public reclamation of the stage. It is a study of the pandemic not just as a period of isolation, but as a cocooning phase that allowed an artist's first wig and eyeshadow palette to become tools of profound psychological survival.

The harmonious coexistence of Daan and Lux

Arjan Spannenburg’s motivation for this piece is to document the joy found in the LGBTQ+ community's shared spaces, where dreams transition into reality. By placing Lux within the dappled light and complex shadows of the maple tree, the artist mirrors the multifaceted nature of the subject's identity. As Lux reflects on the ultimate achievement of their creative journey: I have never felt so good, as Daan and as Lux. This work serves as an institutional record of drag as a holistic medium that unites fashion, dance, and theatre into a singular expression of the self. For the collector, this piece offers a narrative of triumph, illustrating how a "pink glitter dress" from a childhood bin can eventually lead to the radiant confidence of a performer standing in their own light.

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Visual Analysis

A vertical black and white photograph depicting a person in drag, seen from the chest up, standing behind a branch of a Japanese maple tree. The subject has long, straight hair and dramatic, long eyelashes, looking upward and slightly away with a contemplative expression. They are wearing a patterned top and a heavy, chain-link necklace. Their hands, clad in fingerless gloves with a graphic print, are visible as they gently hold the delicate, palmate leaves of the maple. The lighting is focused on the face and torso, creating a bright highlight that contrasts with the dark, out-of-focus foliage in the background, emphasizing the subject's poise.

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Year

2022

Genres

PortraitureMasculine VulnerabilityConceptualFine Art PhotographyMental HealthComing of AgeQueerConceptualLGBTQ+