For press and work inquiries contact: frijkecoumans@gmail.com
Artist Statement
Through my work, I delve into the intricate interplay between our perceived ability to shape our environment and the immutable reality that certain aspects of existence transcend our control.
I initiate a dialogue with viewers by capturing the aftermath of human intervention, where remnants persist in gutters, cracks, and crawl spaces, assuming new roles as they relinquish their original functions.
My photographs oscillate between the desire to exert control and the acceptance of reality. I am intrigued by the relationship between uncertainty, comprehension, and our relentless pursuit of mastery over our surroundings.
The agitation in my mind and the unanswered questions fuel my artistic endeavors, manifesting in series filled with chaos, impressions, and questions.
“As for me, I see both beauty and the dark side of the things; the loveliness of cornfields and full sails, but the ruin as the well. And I see them at the same time, and chary of that ecstasy. The Japanese have a phrase for this dual perception: mono no aware. It means "beauty tinged with sadness," for there cannot be any real beauty without the indolic whiff of decay. For me, living is the same thing as dying, and loving is the same thing as losing, and this does not make me a madwoman; I believe it can make me better at living, and better at loving, and, just possibly, better at seeing.”
- Sally Mann, Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs