Hester Scheurwater
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Netherlander, born 1971
Projects/Portfolios
Shooting Back
Introduction
Hester Scheurwater (1971) studied monumental art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. Under the guise of self-portraits, she investigates and critiques the role of woman as a sex object. Photographs of herself posing before a mirror reflects both Scheurwater's inner thoughts and outward appearance. "The mirrored self-images are my way of reacting on the imitated and fake media images, which are constantly calling upon our imagination, without intending to be taken too seriously, " she explains. " I try to deconstruct this call's effect with my reactions by switching the 'subject-object' relationship, without being victimised by it." Scheurwater's work is sexually explicit, and therefore well known. Scheurwater also teaches video art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague.
Frank Taal, Rotterdam, Netherlands
C PHOTO Pesed / Unposed, Tobia Bezzola, Ivory Press, Madrid, 2011
Euoropean Photography #90 Privacy, Andreas Muller-Pohle, European Photography, Berlin, 2011
SHOOTING BACK Hester Scheurwater, Walter Keller, Gerber & Keller, Zurich, 2011
Artist Statement
The tension between what is happening inside my head and how I act on the outside is what my work is all about, the border between private and public. In trying to reach this frontier I make use of my own body and show series of fantasy self-images. These images frequently refer to the media’s ‘sexually charged’ depiction of women (in advertising, film, music video’s, lyrics, porn). Indoctrinated, obsessed and fascinated by this view of the “sensual seductive” woman as an object of lust, I try, almost obsessively, to comply with this image, by photographing self-portraits. These fantasy images are reminiscent of desires, fears, temptation, seduction, violence and sex. Self images as a sex object, but devoid of any commercial frills, made in my living room, bedroom, studio or bathroom, knowing I can never compete nor live up to the ‘commercial’ image, though revealing my own strength and my perspective on sexual freedom.
The mirrored self-images encompass my private fantasies. They are my way of reacting on the imitated and fake media images, which are constantly calling upon our imagination, without intending to be taken too seriously. I try to deconstruct this call’s effect with my reactions by switching the ’subject-object’ relationship, without being victimised by it. My self-images show I am not a victim of an imposed sexually charged visual culture, instead I give a self-aware answer, in which I try to show my feelings and/or views on the unreal and fake imagery, which is forced upon us daily. This series of photos emerged from a collection of daily uploads on Facebook and my personal blog. In the digital public space, I try to reinforce the exhibitionist nature by presenting them in the context of a living room or a living room setting. In this context exhibitionism and voyeurism come together. Using my own body as a sex object in corresponding poses and an auto-erotic gaze I study voyeurism and exhibitionism. Within a year, my daily photo series have grown from a modest Facebook project (using an iPhone) to a serious photo diary (using better technology). The photo diary now has more photos than I have uploaded to Facebook or my blog.
Hester Scheurwater (1971) studied monumental art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. Under the guise of self-portraits, she investigates and critiques the role of woman as a sex object. Photographs of herself posing before a mirror reflects both Scheurwater's inner thoughts and outward appearance. "The mirrored self-images are my way of reacting on the imitated and fake media images, which are constantly calling upon our imagination, without intending to be taken too seriously, " she explains. " I try to deconstruct this call's effect with my reactions by switching the 'subject-object' relationship, without being victimised by it." Scheurwater's work is sexually explicit, and therefore well known. Scheurwater also teaches video art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague.
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