Artist Statement:
Glimpses of moments caught in time and fragments of the past drive my work. I am interested in the spaces of connection both physically and metaphorically, and I am moved by the stories held in collected black and white photographs from the nineteenth and early twentieth century. These photographs serve as points of departure for painted portraits that piece together stories of past lifetimes, sparking our own memories and connection to people in the present.
Whether an image has been cherished through the years or discarded and forgotten, I reimagine them on a larger scale, inviting dialogue, reflection and a quiet space to let our imagination wander. This transformation encourages slow looking and creates a contemplative space in which viewers can reflect on their own memories and associations. These paintings function as spaces to engage with peoples lived experiences and explore relationships between memory, fear of forgetting, identity, and moments that bring us light.
By leaving the background stark white, I create room for narratives to be pondered and filled with what could be or might have been, while also emphasizing the black-and-white subjects. Some subjects are not fully revealed; their facial features remain minimal, allowing the work to resist a fixed identity, allowing multiple interpretations and connections to emerge.
JOSEPHINE LANGBEHN 