About the Work

Rise and Fall

The stairway is often the heart and soul of a building. It is from here that all rooms and corridors flow – no path can pass it by. Nowhere are rise and fall closer together than in stairways. Sven Fennema’s extraordinary works reveal the true meaning of this statement. In his series “Rise and Fall”, the photographer shows that stairways are more than simply a connection between different floors.

Fennema highlights the importance of these structures, portraying stairways as a carefully crafted means of defining space. The perspectives Fennema uses for his works bring out the classical design and elegant character of the old villa stairways. At times, the angle dissolves the spatial barrier between above and below, as in an Op-Art piece. The old staircases in Fennema’s works, with their classic patinas, are so vivid that we almost catch site of former inhabitants standing just around the corner.

Elemental

Nature’s refusal to concede in the battle against civilization is shown in Fennema’s powerful “Elemental” series. Once man abandons his artificially created habitat, nature begins to reclaim the space. Slowly and subtly, but surely. Fennema shows us forgotten places and opens our eyes to the remarkable stories they have to tell.

We are confronted with the transience of our own existence. Ivy, brambles and trees will eventually reduce everything man has ever created to a forest.

Habitat, Latitude and Boundless

The artist explains his series “Habitat” with a quotation from Jean Paul: “Our memories are the only paradise from which we can never be expelled.” It is hard to believe that anyone living a hundred years ago could have dreamed the luxurious buildings sought out by Fennema would ever be abandoned. What remains are memories of glorious times, of history being experienced, of wealthy inhabitants and their guests.

As Fennema’s atmospheric photographs reveal, the beauty of this pompous architecture remains intact. These antiquated locations have become mysteries to be explored. Fennema approaches the grandiose rooms with such finesse that one almost hopes the impressive monuments might never be woken from their slumber.
About the Artist

Although Sven Fennema enjoyed photography as a child, his great passion for this artistic medium was discovered by chance. Needing a stock of photographs to pursue his hobby of creating photo montages, Fennema bought a DSLR camera and started shooting. He began to enjoy the experience immediately, and by 2007, he was ready to devote himself to a career in photography.

A self-taught photographer of remarkable talent, Fennema did not have to wait long for success. His work has been shown in galleries and exhibitions across Europe and published in highly-praised books. Since 2010, Fennema has had his own studio, Living Pictures, in his new hometown of Krefeld, Germany.

Technique

To find his incredible locations, Sven Fennema spends considerable time buried in archives, examining satellite maps, and travelling. Though laborious, the search for the ideal image ultimately brings success and is as important as the works themselves. The unusual places Fennema uncovers appear to take on a new life in his images.

Fennema hopes to take a number of exciting journeys in the future, but admits that “There are more amazing subjects than there are opportunities to travel.” Once he has found a building, the artist allows himself time to soak in the space and atmosphere. Ideas form in his head for how to approach and execute his shots. In order to create the mysterious lighting that is so characteristic of his works, Fennema uses a fixed tripod and shoots each scene multiple times with bracketed exposure. He then combines the images digitally.

“In buildings where many people see only decay and sadness, I find a special kind of beauty.” Sven Fennema

1981	Born in Xanten, Germany
	Lives and works in Krefeld, Germany

Персональные выставки (избранное)

2014	Architektur fotografieren: Tales of Yesteryear, Architekturschaufenster, Karlsruhe, Germany
	Tales of Yesteryear, Gewölbekeller Kloster Kamp, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
	Tales of Yesteryear, Kunst im Rathaus, Mindelheim, Germany
2013	Poetry of Yesteryear, Villa Corte Eremo, Mantua, Italy

Групповые выставки (избранное)

2014	Staging and revelation II, Art Gallery AFK, Lisbon, Portugal
2013	Clarks Collection, Museum Casa del Mantegna, Mantua, Italy
	ARTocalypse, Gallery Fotoexpo202, Amersfoort, Netherlands
	The establishment of peace, Gallery Kontexte & Transkription, Mönchengladbach, Germany
2012	Forgotten places, Publicis Headquarters, Champs-Élysées, Paris, France
2011	Summer exhibition, Gallery ART UNIT, Düsseldorf, Germany
	BLUR PHOTO 011, Gallery of the Croation Post, Zagreb, Croatia
	ART ON DEMAND, artium Kunstsalon, Bad Honnef, Germany

sven-fennema.de

Книги/Каталоги (избранное)

	Tales of Yesteryear, Sven Fennema, Krefeld 2014.
	Anderswelten - Ästhetik des Untergangs, Sven Fennema, Krefeld 2010.