still lifes & self portraits

To move at ease in a binary system means to unfold the gendered layers of self and society. Through still lifes and self portraits, I am in dialogue with myself and the objects around me. I go after fluid dimensions of femininity in all forms.

About the Artist

Loes de Boer (1999, Netherlands) graduated in 2024 from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague with the work still lifes & self portraits. In the project, she explores the multifaceted nature of identity and examines boundaries often perceived as fixed. Deconstruction is central to her approach. She drew inspiration from photographers within the feminist discourse, sometimes incorporating surrealistic influences. She uses the camera as a tool for self-exploration, with each photo capturing a moment of transformation. For De Boer, photography is a form of self-reflection, where the extraordinary emerges from within. Her work spans various disciplines, including fashion, art, music, and media.

About the Work

The Still Lifes & Self Portraits series is presented both as an installation and a publication. Through her work, De Boer exposes the layered nature of gender on both a personal and societal level. In still lifes and self-portraits, she engages in dialogue with herself and the objects around her. Through the interplay of light and shadow in her monochromatic compositions, new symbols emerge. The fluid dimensions of femininity in all its forms are unravelled. De Boer does not seek definitive answers but rather a sense of freedom, independent of societal expectations.