— Motion 1 | 2015
Lien Hüwels
HD 16:9
B/W, Non spoken
9' 39"
In her current body of work, Lien Hüwels explores the possibilities and limitations inherent to the mediums of photography, video, and installation. Over the past year, her practice has been confined to two self-constructed studio spaces—one black, one white—each serving as mobile structures that evoke the dual functions of stage and pedestal. These modular environments later transitioned into exhibition installations, further expanding her inquiry into the intersection of form and presentation. Within these controlled settings, Hüwels investigates the boundaries of video as a medium, while simultaneously engaging with the representation of the female figure.
In Motion 1, Hüwels delves into the fundamental mechanics of video, using movement and sound to explore the medium’s core properties. The camera, operated by a mechanical device, surveys a motionless, feminine figure lying in a dimly lit environment, focusing on fragmented, isolated details of the body. This fragmented view disrupts the conventional approach to depicting the human figure, evoking questions about desire, the nature of observation, and the complex power dynamics between observer and observed. The large-scale projection amplifies the viewer’s sense of longing and detachment, intensifying the feeling of inaccessibility that pervades the work.
Sound plays a critical connective role, linking the visual elements, the viewer, and the exhibition space itself. It mediates the relationship between the image and its audience, creating a sensory dialogue that transcends the image's material constraints.
Credits:
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Produced by Escautville
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Concept & Realisation: Lien Hüwels
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Camera: Stinus Renders
Screened at:
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2015: HISK, Ghent (BE)
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2016: TEN SLOTTE, Antwerp (BE)