ART THAT MATTERSby Spannenburg.Art
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ESTRANGED (reeks) →
High-contrast monochrome photography of a person with long hair partially hidden by textured locust tree leaves, exploring themes of faith and self-recognition in ARJAN SPANNENBURG'S ESTRANGED series.A black and white fine art portrait of a young male model named Max standing partially hidden behind leafy branches.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.A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of ROBIN for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a person with a shaved head among dense leaves.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 ZICO for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a man among tall marsh reeds.
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 hierdie aangrypende hoofstuk van die ESTRANGED reeks, ondersoek ARJAN SPANNENBURG die sielkundige impak van aggressiewe huishoudelike heteronormatiwiteit. Deur die portret van CHRISTIAN, visualiseer die kunstenaar die swaar las om groot te word in 'n omgewing waar 'n mens se ontluikende identiteit vooraf as "walglik" of "abnormaal" bestempel word. SPANNENBURG gebruik die klassieke, stewige eikeblare om die gewig van tradisie en die rigiede strukture van die gesinseenheid te simboliseer. Die onderwerp word van agter vasgevang, wegkykend in die digte blare—'n visuele metafoor vir die jare wat spandeer is om weg te kruip vir 'n vader se verbale geweld en die interne bevraagtekening van 'n mens se eie reg om binne die samelewing te bestaan.

From the darkness of doubt to the light of acceptance

SPANNENBURG’s motivation for this work is to document the "day and night" contrast between fear and safety within the home. By placing CHRISTIAN in a state of partial concealment among the oak branches, the artist mirrors the subject's journey of suppressing his feelings to survive his father's rhetoric, while simultaneously seeking the light of his mother's tolerance. As CHRISTIAN reflects on the damage caused by his father's words: Because of what he said, I wondered if I was normal. Am I really that filthy and do I really have no place in society? This work serves as an institutional record of the emotional labour required to unlearn self-hatred. For the collector, this piece offers a deep, quiet strength, representing the moment a soul decides to stop looking back at the past and begins to seek its own path through the thicket.

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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

PortraitureMasculine VulnerabilityKonseptueelFine Art PhotographyGeestesgesondheidComing of AgeQueerKonseptueelLGBT+