Bildhalle is proud to present the premiere works by Joost Vandebrug. His art explores the boundaries of the photographic medium, characterized by his meticulous attention to the material aspects of photography and his unconventional printing techniques. Vandebrug's thematic interests encompass the natural, the vulnerable, the ephemeral, the poetic, the slow, and the magic of the everyday.
His practice is distinguished by extensive material research, embracing imperfections as part of the creative process. He prints his works on meticulously crafted handmade Japanese washi paper, Nepali paper or baryta paper. Vandebrug considers imperfections as crucial to his work, as they expose the mechanics of the process and imbue the final product with a kind of vibrancy. Moreover, they echo the themes of his work, such as sensitivity and vulnerability.
Vandebrug's previous series 'Exhilarating' reflects a personal journey from fear and isolation to light and hope, depicted through handcrafted paper cards of mountain landscapes at twilight. By choosing the twilight in this series, light and dark are given equal weight and become equally important. His latest project, 'Pillow Book,' plays with the idea of a personal diary, using monotypes on mulberry paper to explore memory's fluidity over time, while Vandebrug's fascination with the Danube is a recurring theme in his work. He views the river as a symbol of life, purity, and fertility, and as a metaphor for the irreversible passage of time. In addition to photographing natural objects collected from along the river, he also captures fragile items like wilted flowers through a microscope.
VIDEO INTALLATION “MOMENT/TIME” AT UNBOUND 2024
Joost Vandebrug’s video installation “Moment/Time” examines the fluidity of time and the transient nature of existence. Inspired by Heraclitus’ concept that ‘you can never step in the same river twice’, the work features eight vertically positioned TV screens, each displaying a unique seascape. Despite their individuality, the screens are aligned to create a continuous horizon line that stretches across the installation, suggesting the subtle continuity that connects moments in time.
This arrangement underscores the themes of impermanence and transformation in both nature and human experience. By capturing the sea’s infinite variability, the installation mirrors the multifaceted nature of recollection and memory – how moments can be both faithful and altered over time. Vandebrug’s work intertwines these transient scenes into a unified flow, illustrating the ceaseless movement and interconnectedness of change. Each of the 8 screens features a unique mono audio fragment with distinct pitch, tempo, and sound. When played together, these fragments create a spatial, infinite, aleatoric composition – constantly evolving yet consistently similar (score by Jeroen de Pessemier).
