THE PRECISE CUT

The art of silhouette making and the intricate skill that is tied to it is something one associates with much earlier centuries . Originating in China the technique was refined over centuries at court as well as within middle class where it finally broke free from the tradition of silhouette portraiture. Elaborate shadow puppet shows were created in the far east as well as the west. The shadow puppet films from Lotte Reiniger, created in the twenties,“The Brave Little Tailor”and “Prince Achmed” are a part of art and film history.

Christine Matthäi stands with her works “Tranquility” and “On the Beach” in the narrative tradition of shadow puppetry and transfers these elements of century old techniques to modern photography.  However, she does not let the short narratives stand in high contrast angular shapes. Instead she lets the negative and positive elements shift to blurred space, which partly recalls an airbrush effect.

With simple elements she lets the surfaces of the sea , and oceans of clouds skillfully glide into one another and invites one to lose oneself in their atmosphere..Christine Matthäi’s works are  convincing proof that modern digital photographic techniques and skilled craft traditions are not mutually exclusive and can take part in a successful symbiosis.

Horst Klöver