Text by Barbara De Vadder
Annabella Schwagten, Title?
For the workshop Annabella Schwagten made a collage of hundred photomontages which were made with the generators Imikimi. This way she placed the same picture of herself in different sceneries for example an exotic beach). Because of her apathetic facial expression the banality this montages comes to surface and the attention is focused on the scenery, not the picture. It is in this perspective the component of humour lies. Furthermore plays this work with the concept of “bad taste” which fascinates the artist. Ideally, this work would make people think about this notion of “bad taste” and the beauty of banal sceneries. Moreover, the artist would like her work to be received as humorous. Because in general she isn’t such a fan of serious art and this way she hopes to invite people to not take everything so serious. Consequently, she often as not always uses humour in her work. But she finds it hard and not relevant to construe any strategy that lies beneath this. Because when things are analysed too much or put into systems, a lot a things get lost and then especially concerning humour. According to Annabella, the power of humour lies exactly in the things that aren’t said or shown. Furthermore is humour a very broad concept and it takes on a crucial role in her life. Consequently, the concept of humour will recur in her work, because there is enough negativity going on in the world and also in art. Humour in art, as also humour everywhere else is an extremely powerful tool according the artist to convey a message that doesn’t fit into exact words. It leaves room to talk more open and freely about some heavy subjects. Furthermore is humour also capable to function as a sort of veil to soften certain facts and opinions.
photography performing humour 