To coincide with Photo Oxford 2020, Open Space, the inaugural exhibition of contemporary photography at Zuleika Gallery Woodstock presents the work of Femke Dekkers ( b.1980 NL) curated by Anstice Oakeshott. Drawing upon nearly a decade of work, the exhibition reveals the unique practice of a multidisciplinary artist, who brings together photography, painting and sculpture to explore the limits of human vision and comprehension. Femke Dekkers uses the camera as a tool to play games with our powers of perception. Treating her studio as a stage set, she explores the tension between static architecture and illusions of painterly perspective. Building up layers and shapes using paint, paper, wood and tape her work gradually materialises on the studio walls in a fluid process evolving without sketchbooks or planning. Femke moves back and forth between her camera and the physical space, adding and taking away elements from the set. For many weeks she builds up to the moment when the ‘click’ of her camera translates the set into film. Framed through the lens, her work is transformed into a dynamic 2D surface; an optical illusion that challenges the eye to discern.
Femke works largely with analogue cameras, she favours the slow and considered technique of traditional photographic practises and the resulting painterly quality of the prints. Focussing on colour, form and scale she says, ‘I feel more like a painter or sculptor than a photographer.’
Zuleika Gallery, Woodstock, is open daily, observing current regulations around social distancing - viewing appointments can be booked online through the gallery’s website. www.zuleikagallery.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Images:
(Left) 15:03, August 2, Thursday, 2012, Inkjetprint on dibond 70 x 101 cm Edition of 3 + 2AP
(Right) Stage 2-3.1, 2018, Stage 2-3.1, 2018 Pigment print on fiber based paper 105 x 70 cm Edition: 5 + 2 AP
About Femke Dekkers
Born in 1980 in Rijsbergen, The Netherlands Femke Dekkers works and lives in Breda, Netherlands. Since graduating in 2011 she has exhibited widely across Europe. Notable exhibitions include, Stedelijk Museum Breda, Gallery The Community in Paris, Gallery Trapéz, Budapest, Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmegen, LUMC Galerie and Gemeentemuseum The Hague. Her work is included in numerous collections including: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague, Noord Brabants Museum, NNGroup and Plancius Art Collection.
About Anstice Oakeshott
Anstice Oakeshott is an Independent Photography Specialist and Curator with fifteen years of industry experience. Previously Anstice held the position of Senior Specialist at The Photographers’ Gallery where she curated exhibitions for numerous renowned and emerging photographers including Sebastião Salgado, Julie Cockburn, Wolfgang Suschitzky, Elliot Erwitt and Jacques-Henri Lartigue. With a Masters in Art History from Glasgow University, Anstice began her career managing Alon Zakaim Fine Art in London before turning her focus towards photography. Anstice advises international collectors on building both classic and contemporary collections and has presented talks on collecting photography at The Photographers’ Gallery, The Hospital Club, Soho House and for the Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
About Zuleika Gallery
Zuleika Gallery was founded in Oxford in 2015 by Lizzie Collins and focuses on Contemporary and Modern British Art. Artists represented by the gallery include Trevor Sutton, Manijeh Yadegar, Andy Barker, Rachel Gracey, Claudia Clare and Frances Aviva Blane. Lizzie Collins is a History of Art graduate of UCL, and a postgraduate of the Courtauld Institute in London. Lizzie was a director and auctioneer at Bonhams, and a specialist at Christies in 20th Century British Art, before founding Zuleika Gallery. In 2016 Lizzie set up the art programme for Saïd Business School, University of Oxford where she has curated exhibitions by Nigel Hall RA, Nicola Green and Alice Kettle. For more information visit zuleikagallery.com
About Photo Oxford Festival
Founded by local photojournalist, Robin Laurance, Photo Oxford was established to bring internationally acclaimed photography and photographic debate to the city of Oxford. This year is the third Photo Oxford Festival and the theme ‘Women and Photography’ is a celebration of women as photographers, critics, editors and photographic subjects. Read more about Photo Oxford
Zuleika Gallery (Oxfordshire), 6 Park Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1SP Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10.30 am – 5.30 pm Saturday 11am - 5.30 pm Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm Contact: info@zuleikagallery.com T: 01993 357 077
Zuleika Gallery (London), 3rd Floor, 6 Mason’s Yard, St James's, London, SW1Y 6BU Opening hours: Monday – Friday: By Appointment Only