Art That Mattersby Spannenburg.Art
← Back to Collection
A black and white conceptual fine art portrait of LUX for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a person in drag among Japanese maple leaves.

More from the series

ESTRANGED (reeks) →
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 fine art portrait of SURAINA for the ESTRANGED series by ARJAN SPANNENBURG, featuring a woman looking through elderberry branches.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.High-contrast monochrome photography of a young man with closed eyes, surrounded by chestnut tree branches and leaves, exploring themes of truth and identity 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.
Arjan Spannenburg

ESTRANGED - LUX

"A compelling, dual-layered narrative of self-discovery, charting the journey from a child's clandestine, glitter-strewn playtime to the professional world 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

SPANNENBURG se motivering vir hierdie werk is om die vreugde te dokumenteer wat gevind word in die gedeelde ruimtes van die LHBT+ gemeenskap, waar drome na werklikheid omskep word. Deur LUX in die gespikkelde lig en komplekse skaduwees van die akkerboom te plaas, weerspieël die kunstenaar die veelsydige aard van die subjek se identiteit. Soos LUX nadink oor die uiteindelike prestasie van hul kreatiewe reis: Ek het nog nooit so goed gevoel nie, as Daan en as Lux. Hierdie werk dien as 'n institusionele rekord van drag as 'n holistiese medium wat mode, dans en teater verenig in 'n enkele uitdrukking van die self. Vir die versamelaar bied hierdie stuk 'n narratief van triomf, wat illustreer hoe 'n "pienk glitterrok" uit 'n kinderhuis-houer uiteindelik kan lei tot die uitstralende selfvertroue van 'n kunstenaar wat in hul eie lig staan.

Download fact sheet (PDF)

Visual Analysis

'N vertikale swart-en-wit foto wat 'n persoon in drag uitbeeld, gesien van die bors op, wat agter 'n tak van 'n Japannese esdoornboom staan. Die onderwerp het lang, reguit hare en dramatiese, lang wimpers, kyk opwaarts en effens weg met 'n bedagsame uitdrukking. Hulle dra 'n patroon-top en 'n swaar, ketting-skakel halssnoer. Hul hande, geklee in vingerlose handskoene met 'n grafiese druk, is sigbaar terwyl hulle saggies die delikate, palm-agtige blare van die esdoorn vashou. Die beligting is gefokus op die gesig en bolyf, wat 'n helder hoogtepunt skep wat kontrasteer met die donker, buite-fokus blare op die agtergrond, wat die onderwerp se houding beklemtoon.'

Configure Your Edition

Select Size & Edition

Select Material / Finish

Year

2022

Genres

PortraitureMasculine VulnerabilityKonseptueelFine Art PhotographyGeestesgesondheidComing of AgeQueerKonseptueelLGBT+