WILLAS contemporary in Stockholm presents till the 12th of May an exhibition by Jimmy Nelson, Between the Sea and the Sky.
Whilst reflecting on restrictions during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Jimmy Nelson realised he didn’t have to travel far to discover exceptional human beauty; he could also create art closer to home. A new project emerged: Between the Sea and the Sky, where he depicts 20 communities in traditional dress and the environment that formed them, the Netherlands. The result reveals a key part of Dutch identity that has almost completely disappeared into oblivion.
For centuries, the Dutch have battled the water, keeping their country—nearly a quarter of which lies below sea level—safe. This has required great strength, solidarity, and stamina, resulting in the typical Dutch traits that have shaped Dutch culture and identity.
The exhibition includes intimate portraits and iconic landscapes captured with a custom-made 10 x 8 analogue plate camera. The unusually large negative gives the artwork definition and perspective, which creates a romantic atmosphere, much like a painting by the Dutch masters of the Golden Age. As they walk, talk and dance, they offer a glimpse into how they interact with each other, merging with horizons of seaports, golden dunes and vast vistas dotted with windmills—the landscapes they call home.
“The lines on your faces are etched onto the map of our time, drafting contemporary contours that speak volumes. These images don’t just contain the frozen seconds of the camera’s shutter but the centuries of tradition, hardship and resilience you as subjects brought to this infinitesimally brief moment of stillness and silence that we shared.” – Jimmy Nelson
Jimmy Nelson : Between the sea and the sky
Until May 12th, 2023
Willas contemporary
IVAR – Tändstickspalatset
Västra Trädgårdsgatan 15
111 53 Stockholm. Sweden
www.willas.com
@willas_contemporary
https://www.willas.com/artist/jimmy-nelson
Between the Sea and the Sky
In his new book Between the Sea and the Sky Jimmy Nelson depicts 20 communities in traditional dress and the environment that formed them, the Netherlands. The result reveals a key part of Dutch identity that has almost completely disappeared into oblivion. As a full immersion in the rich culture of his adopted homeland, Between the Sea and the Sky is also Jimmy Nelson’s most personal book to date.
https://www.jimmynelson.com/product/between-the-sea-and-the-sky/
