The exhibition Beyond the Horizon presents the work of Dutch artist and photographer Scarlett Hooft Graafland (1973), whose practice lies at the crossroads of photography, performance, and sculpture. Her medium-format analogue photographs emerge from ephemeral interventions staged in fragile and often remote landscapes — from the Bolivian salt flats to the deserts of Yemen, from Arctic territories to the vast expanses of northern Canada (Nunavut), as well as Madagascar and islands across the Pacific.
Far from being straightforward documentary photography, her photographs are carefully choreographed mises en scenes in which everyday objects, colourful fabrics, sculptural forms, or human figures disrupt the natural order of the landscape. These interventions create subtle dissonances, blending humour, surrealism, and visual poetry while sharpening our awareness of place. Each image unfolds like a visual fable — playful, critical, and deeply attuned to our relationship with nature and cultural identities.
A distinctive element of her practice is her resolute refusal of digital retouching. Every photograph is the unique trace of a performance executed on-site, captured in a single take. This commitment to authenticity underscores the impermanence of the gesture, the fragility of the environments she explores, and the truthfulness of the lived moment.
At the core of her work lies a genuine philosophy of slowness: long journeys, patient immersion in the landscapes, close observation of light and natural rhythms, and close collaboration with local communities. In a world saturated with instantaneous imagery, her practice invites pause, contemplation, and the rediscovery of wonder.
The selection highlights this singular approach, combining conceptual rigour with visual poetry. Her practice resonates strongly with contemporary concerns such as ecology, cultural dialogue, and the need for mindful presence — all crucial to the Festival’s thematic focus.
Beyond the Horizon – Scarlett Hooft Graafland
Solo Show 11.01 > 28.02.2026
Rivoli Building
Chaussée de Waterloo 690
1180 Brussels
Open Thursday to Saturday from 12 noon to 6 pm or/& by appointment
www.micheleschoonjansgallery.be
This exhibition is also part of PhotoBrussels – so do have a look at the others:
Michèle Schoonjans Gallery Beyond the Horizon – Scarlett Hooft Graafland 11 Jan. > 28 Feb. 2026
Entry Gallery Den Silencio – Jaïr Marc Castillo 11 Jan. > 28 Feb. 2026
Vue Gallery Maman est là – Julie Scheurweghs 11 Jan. > 28 Feb. 2026
Zwart Huis How the Light Gets In – Peter H.Waterschoot et Stefan Peters 11 Jan. > 28 Feb. 2026
In-DEPENDANCE / Ibasho Land – Bodyscapes – Group Show 15 Jan. > 07 Mar. 2026
Studio Baxton Dolorès Marat 21 Jan. > 8 Mar. 2026
Galerie Eric Mouchet Leather and S&M Underground – Robert Mapplethorpe 22 Jan. > 14 Mar. 2026
L’Enfant Sauvage CAT ISLAND BLUES – Katherine Longly 16 Jan. > 15 Mar. 2026
Spazio Nobile Panoramic, 15 years of Art Photography – Frederik Vercruysse 22 Jan. > 15 Mar. 2026
Contretype Earth Not a Globe – Philippe Braquenier 15 Jan. > 29 Mar. 2026
Fondation A Stichting RePose ExPose CounterPose – Tarrah Krajnak 22 Jan. > 17 May 2026
Hangar The House – The Anonymous project by Lee Shulman & Family Stories – Group Show 23 Jan. > 17 May 2026
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