In the realm of contemporary photography, Felix Schoeppner stands out as a conceptual artist who challenges the boundaries between art and everyday life. His work, marked by meticulous craftsmanship and a deep exploration of themes like labor, technology, and perception, offers a unique perspective on the future of work and the human condition. This article delves into Schoeppner's creative process, his fascination with scientific concepts, and the unexpected inspiration behind his latest project, Handle with Care.
A Unique Artistic Journey
Schoeppner's artistic journey began with a borrowed camera and a skateboarding session, an unlikely combination for a photographer. His upbringing near Frankfurt, surrounded by museum visits and the influence of his architect parents, laid the foundation for his interest in art and design. Despite considering architecture as a career, he chose Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt, where he developed a strong technical foundation in photography, particularly in lighting and precision. However, it was his encounter with Arno Rafael Minkkinen's intuitive and bodily-engaged approach to photography that sparked a shift in his artistic direction.
The Shift to Still Life and Conceptual Thinking
After a personal struggle with illness and cancer, Schoeppner found solace in still life photography. This medium, which he had initially kept at arm's length, became a space for conceptual thinking and personal expression. His series Cognition, which explored everyday materials and scientific reference points, marked the public arrival of this new direction. The solar system image in Cognition, for instance, took three days to create, showcasing his meticulous approach to constructing images.
The Evolution of Handle with Care
Handle with Care, Schoeppner's graduation project from the Bauhaus University in Weimar, takes his practice further into questions about labor, automation, presence, and avoidance. The project began with a conceptual groundwork that took nearly two years to develop. Schoeppner's interest in how inventive people become when trying to avoid tasks they don't want to engage with sparked the idea. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its shift to remote work and new forms of autonomy, further fueled this interest.
The Technical Process and Materials
Schoeppner's technical process is a blend of precision and intentional imperfection. He uses chipboard and aluminum profiles, materials that are accessible, functional, and flexible. His constructions need to withstand actual stress, making the process more precise and materially demanding. He intentionally leaves traces of the process visible, preserving a sense of development within the object itself. Lighting has also evolved, with some objects containing built-in light sources that influence the overall atmosphere.
The Role of Post-Production
Post-production plays a relatively restrained role in Schoeppner's work. He tries to resolve as much as possible during the shoot, with editing mainly refining the image rather than altering it fundamentally. He sees the entire process, from concept to construction to image, as one continuous movement, where the photograph is not a separate outcome but a moment within that process.
The Unexpected Inspiration: Laboratory Equipment
One unexpected element in Handle with Care is the presentation of the apparatuses in laboratory equipment transport cases. These images, of partially unpacked and suspended laboratory equipment, resonate with Schoeppner's broader interest in the unstable and transitional nature of work in the context of automation and AI. The apparatuses exist in a state of potential, much like the systems of labor and control they refer to.
Personal Interpretation and Commentary
In my opinion, Schoeppner's work is a testament to the power of art to challenge and reflect on the human condition. His exploration of labor, technology, and perception through everyday materials and scientific concepts is both thought-provoking and visually stunning. The way he constructs images, using familiar objects and materials, invites viewers to approach the image through something they know, even when the overall situation is ambiguous or abstract. This tension between recognition and uncertainty is what makes his work so compelling.
From my perspective, the use of laboratory equipment transport cases in Handle with Care is a powerful commentary on the current state of work and the future of labor. It reflects the instability and transition of work in the digital age, where automation and AI are reshaping the relationship between humans and machines. The apparatuses, presented in a state of potential, are a visual representation of this transition, inviting viewers to reflect on the role of humans in a world increasingly dominated by technology.
One thing that immediately stands out is the ingenuity and humor in how people build the mouse movers. This aspect of improvisation and adaptation connects directly to Schoeppner's broader interest in construction and recontextualization. It also highlights the human element in technology, showing how people find creative solutions to problems and adapt to new circumstances. What many people don't realize is that the mouse movers are not just functional devices but also works of art, reflecting the human condition and the relationship between humans and technology.
If you take a step back and think about it, Schoeppner's work is a call to action for artists and viewers alike. It challenges us to reflect on the role of art in a world dominated by technology and to consider the broader implications of our work. It also invites us to explore the potential of everyday materials and concepts to create thought-provoking and visually stunning art. This raises a deeper question: how can we use art to challenge and reflect on the human condition in a world increasingly shaped by technology?
