Daniëlle van Ark, 2005/2007
Untitled (Smile, No Smile)
Created by Daniëlle van Ark in 2005-2007. The artwork is a c-print on aluminum and displayed at 60 x 75 cm.
Look at the different emotions expressed by the subjects in this photo! The two portrayed women do not see each other, divided by a gallery wall, yet the viewer gets a simultaneous glimpse of their facial expressions. Their emotional juxtaposition is reminiscent of the comedy and tragedy masks that symbolise the theatre. Over the course of a year, Daniëlle van Ark visited gallery openings in the New York art district, Chelsea. The resulting series, For Art's Sake, offers a peek into the exclusive circles of the art scene. Van Ark’s images reveal the human tendency to perform different roles in social settings, conforming to the strict norms of high-brow art spaces. With a sociological approach, van Ark observes the scene and captures its peculiarities within a split-second. For Art’s Sake reflects Van Ark's fascination with concepts of status and with places that are normally off-limits to the general public.
© Daniëlle van Ark, courtesy of the Foam Collection