« Imagine being able to recreate Edward Hopper’s paintings into actual places. That wonderful light, to experience it in a different way.This idea started the project. One of the things I fell in love with in Edward Hopper’s work is the interrelation of light and space. To translate his painted models into actual illuminated places, I built three-dimensional cardboard scale models.Then I turn on the light (for most of the exposures only a small lightbulb) on this artifical cardboard world, my attempt to grasp that magical light. I also deeply love the way Edward Hopper shows the human experience in connection to the forces of nature (houses & people embraced by formations of rampant trees and expanding sun) and culture (the city). I feel universal human thruth in it. So next in the working process was to create this layer of human life. Therefore I photographed the models on a set lighted by a huge flood of light , a HMI lamp. Afterwards I tried to put together all these things – to recreate that sense of place and light. »
Laetitia Molenaar
The International Fine Art Photography Program and The de Groot Foundation announced the 2012 competition winners and exhibited them at the No Foud Photo Fair in Paris. “Our goal is to provide recognition to deserving talent,” said Clydette de Groot, Co-Director of The de Groot Foundation, sponsor of the program. “And by the wonderful comments we have received from the participants, we have exceeded expectations.” The second prize in « Experimental » category was awarded to à Laetitia Molenaar. An exhibit of the finalists work was presented at the NoFound Photo Fair in Paris (November 16–19).
Laetitia Molenaar is a Dutch photographer, who lives in Amsterdam. She is a graduate of CABK – ArtEZ, academy of visual arts and was a painter before she started a three years course in photography in 2005. Since 2008 her photography has been exhibited in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Argentina and South-Korea. She has received a first prize at the Julia Margaret Cameron Award 2010.
