The photographs in the exhibition LAND are an investigation into
the landscape found at the fringes of the city; its gaps and its forgotten areas. As such it’s a continuation of the theme that is the premise for the photo book “Landscape with Weeds”, where some of the photos can also be seen, but with the addition of more recent photos in the same vein. The main inspiration for this investigation comes from Willy Ørskov’s statements about the “Terrain Vague”.
Focusing upon the overlooked and neglected represents a critical stance on the traditional conventions of beauty; a form of anti-aesthetic dis- course. In order for me to find my motives I need to be 100% present, purified of any sentimentality about the place I see. The spectator doesn’t need to know where the photo is taken, but the understated vitality of the images leave no possibility for titles other than the name of the place.

The constitution of the photos largely takes place in the eye of the be- holder. The framing points out and freeze the scene, but the absence of clearly defined objects, and the movement of the gaze across the image surface signifies a restless nature and a culture filled with procrastina- tion and uneasiness. It’s a search for new aesthetics and for the beauty of the immediate that ignites me, as it does for a lot of other artists. The picturesque is a source of inspiration, which clearly testifies to the differing perceptions of reality through the ages.

The discourse of my photography includes, apart from the landscapes,
a profound interest in the Still Life genre which have always served as representations of what is deemed valuable at a given time, and which provides room for contemplation. In my Still Life photography I’m telling stories, and experiment with different materials in order to make new aesthetic statements.
Jeanette Land Schou 2014