Undertow

About

MAMA presents the work of five unique artists, whose practices puts human behaviour under the magnifying glass. They share a common fascination with the undercurrents of human existence, for the conscious and unconscious rituals, ideologies, and conformist codes that inform behaviour.

The title, Undertow, refers to these undercurrents, which, like a second stratum of narrative, instil the works with a visual complexity and layering, thus making an unambiguous interpretation of the work impossible. A second common factor in these five practices is the artists base their work on long-term visual research. As a result, Undertow comprises a cross section of the possibilities of contemporary visual culture – from formal research with high levels of technical concentration to semi-autobiographical snapshots.

In the run-up to the show, the artists were mentored by experts actively involved in (documentary) photography, and therefore with a discerning eye for the unique documentation of human behaviour. The experts were: Femke Lutgerink (FOTODOK), Erik Vroons (New Dawn), and photographer Otto Snoek.

Undertow is part of MAMA's programming theme Eyes Wide Open, in which we examine how the work of artists is part of, and provides an alternative view, of reality. For this program, MAMA selects artists whose work's meaning is visible on the surface, and yet it retains an inherent sense of ambiguity.

Thanks to FOTODOK and New Dawn.