Tijdelijk Huis van Thuis
Unseen Home
Foto: Johannes Schwartz
The interiors of our homes are often seen as the ultimate expression of our individuality, but what if we were unable to see ourselves in our interiors? What if the interior is not a reflection of who we are?
Blindenzimmer
In a series of analogue photographs Johannes Schwartz made of the interiors of blind people's homes the interaction between interior, occupant, and object is pivotal. The images were recorded on 20x25 cm photographic film in a clear, no-nonsense manner. The only addition was the bright light source that illuminated every corner of the room from behind the camera.
For the occupants, the surprise was in the process - the time it took to make a single shot, the heat of the spotlight, the invisibility. It is up to the viewer to decipher the visible traces of these people's daily lives, no matter how deceptive this representation might be.
While we watch from a distance, we perceive such an abundance of details in the photographs that the there is almost a discontinuity between distance and detailing. Whereupon we may decide to look away and concentrate on the outdated sofa or the overflowing cupboard.
In Blindenzimmer the central question is, 'Can we mimic the spatial perception of a blind person?' Only via a medium to which that person does not have access.
Photography: Johannes Schwartz
Courtesy Annet Gelink Gallery