Hendrik Kerstens’ portrait photography
Dutch photographer Hendrik Kersten channels Vermeer, Rembrandt, and a host of his other forbears in his unsettling portraits of his daughter, Paula. Although artist and subject are as familiar as two people can be, Kersten manages to make Paula look distant and guarded, whether he’s capturing her blemishes or dolling her up. None of his images seem idealized or reverent, but rather voyeuristic and distant, and have a candidness about them that belies the precision and discipline Kersten actually puts into his work.
Tagged: Dutch photographers, portraits
RELATED
The photography of Lily Nance engages the arresting vulnerability of youth in a way that only the perverse and loving reaction of the subject to its inquisitive observer really can.
The street art of Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils’, is so refreshing. He carves, sculpts, drills, scratches and paints his images onto the wall. And he captures emotion in great detail. Check out this awesome video to watch him in action. Read more
Beautiful portrait photographs from India
London-based designer and photographer, Karnatarka, has some nice portraits from India showing the diversity of the country. Read more
Also by GERRY MAK
Anatomical cross-sections made from Japanese tissue paper
Lisa Nilsson’s Tissue Series consists of anatomical cross-sections made from Japanese mulberry paper and the gilded edges of old books. Read more
Designed by Patrick Jouffret of French design studion agency 360, this unisex bicycle helmet folds up into a compact shape small enough to fit in your purse or backpack, so you’re not left wondering what to do with it after you’ve locked up your bike.
Millennium Falcon fort built for young leukemia patient
Christian, a nine-year-old leukemia patient, wished for a backyard fort shaped like the Millennium Falcon. The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted his wish. Read more
YOU'RE SAYING (5)
bridie said | 21 May, 2008
I fi nd it disturbing that he photographs his daughter like this….does anyone seriously think that is interesting or relevant just because it channels western artists? With Vermeer in particular the relationship that he had with his subjects was as important and well documented as his craft and technique. How can the two be isolated…I don’t think they can be,
mp said | 23 May, 2008
The style is quite beautiful but also find this a little disturbing. Voyeurism alright… and more than a little creepy. This is very similar to the new Bill Henson photography exhibition that was to open in Sydney this week. It’s a relief that it has been shut down and it’s now being investigated by police. What happened to the normal childhood that kids used to enjoy? I’m all for pushing the boundries in art but there’s a limit.
yasmin said | 23 May, 2008
yeah, i think it’s creepy too. when i first saw the image of the sunburnt girl i thought ‘cool!’ ‘cos it’s really raw, and is capturing someone in an unbeautiful state in the techniques of a typically beautiful image. and it is a beautiful image. she looks like a teenager, and i thought if she’s chosen to do this modelling with a photographer good on her. but the fact that it’s her father changes everything. it means the power dynamic between them is unlikely to ever be equal, as he’s an authority figure. and why do people think it’s ok for a father to take topless photos of his teenage daughter? i don’t care if it’s in the name of art. it’s still inappropriate.
Joske said | 25 May, 2008
The odd thing is that it also adds something for me. Attempting to recreate classical styles of paintings with a plastic bag on your head or an Ipod in your hands just has more humour in the familiar relation that is the case here. But it probably depends on your attitude towards it. I don’t nessecearily think the father-daughter realtion here needs to be seen in the authoritive way, even though there’s a possibility to it. Mayby I’m being naive in giving it the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I’m too inclined to see people as autonomous individuals. Then again, doubting someones autonomy as an individual doesnt seem like such a nice thing to do either. So I stuck to trying to see it in a positive way, and really liked the pictures. Yes, some where still slightly unsetteling, but all in all (and maybe because of it?), the portraits were really well done and of great originality.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Aurel Schmidt’s intricate drawings make me want to start a band just so I can use it as album art. The DIY-outsider tack many artists have taken of late has produced some art that makes you think ‘I could do that’, but Schmidt’s work is inimitable — her rendering of hair must make other artists furious with envy. Read more
Cotswold-based photographer Kai Murphy photographs people and landscapes, using dilapidated equipment to convey a narrative within his images. I have been especially inspired by his picture The Bison, a photograph taken in India on a film that had been recovered from a sunken boat.
My favourite cartoon is Home Movies by Brendon Small. Read more
Last night, I caught Pagan Fest at B.B. Kings in NYC. I missed the band that I was the most excited to see, T˘r, but Turisas and Ensiferum more than made up for it. Americans have been pretty late to warm up to folk and Viking metal, and bands of this sort almost never tour the States, so it was gratifying to see that the show was sold out, and that the crowd was so exuberant. Read more
Grace is part of a new series of books by author Dale Cusack. The story chronicles the lives of Grace and her feline companion Boot in their struggle to fight the evil Drawl and the cover illustration was done by Auckland-based artist, and Lost At E Minor contributor, Dennis Juan Ma. We asked him about what shaped the colour choices for the piece: ‘I wanted to create a mystery world within the reality. I wanted the colour to encourage readers to stimulate their imagination. I illustrated the covers with a classical Japanese wood block look to show the oriental flavour of the cat’s world. And it just happens that I’m a wood block art fan’. Read more
Given the amount of talent he has, it’s a mystery why German producer Pantha Du Prince not received more attention than he has. His minimal tech soundscapes are surprisingly melodic and moody, as reflected on his epic track, Asha, as good a starting point to the music of this German electro whiz as any.
Created by Aussie label Eleventh Commandment on 100 percent premium combed cotton, the design on this tee is a hand-sketch by Sydney artist Joshua Oldfield of Kate Moss enjoying some coke. As she does!
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
Baltimore Mural by Josh Van Horne
My friend Josh Van Horne, a local Baltimore artist, did this amazing mural in our neighborhood that depicts the history of this warehouse-laden area.
Michelle Blade’s psychedelic artwork
Michelle Blade’s washed out paintings are deceptively simple, her washy acrylics creating psychedelic textures and conjuring ghostly figures from the past. Read more
The return of the Brionvega rr226
Italian brand Brionvega has resurrected the classy Radiofonografio piece first created in 1965. The updated version is just like the original turntable/radio unit, but also has a CD/DVD player.
Cookie Boy’s creative cookie designs
I don’t eat cookies, so good thing Cookie Boy’s cookies are little pieces of art too pretty and cute to eat. Read more
Sovereign Beck create modern silk ties for the classic man — both understated and provocative, classic and cutting edge. We have them for sale in the Lost At E Minor store. Read more
If you have a Twitter feed that focuses on cool pop cultural things and you’d like to swap Tweets with Lost At E Minor and other like-minded Twitterers, drop us a note (with Tweet Swap in the title). We have a system in place and we’d like to have you in on it! [illustration by Brad Fitzpatrick]
FOLLOW US
DISCOVER MORE
SO...
SEARCH: Can't find what you're looking for? Do a search..
IS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO?
We hope you're enjoying your time on Lost At E Minor, but it's not over yet. Got something to share? Tell us about it and we'll look to publish it. If you want to have your work featured on the site, we'd love to hear from you. Pssst, we also have an online store stocking some of the goodies we feature on the site.
If you're a media agency and want to use this platform to connect with our readership, then drop us a line and tell us about it. Oh yeah, and we do digital consulting for cool brands that want to reach the sort of demographic that visits this site.
Zac said | 21 May, 2008
Living in Bondi as I do, each summer I see dozens of crimson faced tourists who’ve underestimated the strength of our sun. Never thought of photographing them though – great post!