Elspeth Diederix

Some recent solo exhibitions
Museum Jan Cunen, Oss 2009
Dordrechts Museum, 2005, 'De Scheffer 2005'
Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam 2003

Some recent group exhibitions
Biennale di Venezia, Venice 2009, 'Rietveld Arsenale'
The Art Institute, Chicago 2005, 'In Sight. Contemporary Dutch Photography from the Stedelijk Museum'
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 2003, 'Link – Voorstel tot Gemeentelijke Kunstaankopen 2002-2003'
Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen 2002, 'Prix de Rome 2002. Fotografie'

Elspeth Diederix's photographs typically blend contrasting elements of the banal and the absurd, the rich colour palette and the perfection of the photo – which would not exist without enormous patience and dedication. 'I don't use special lighting – a flash at most. And I use an analogue camera, a heavy Pentax 6x7 that still goes 'clack'.  I love that camera! It's so easy to adjust the focus in the viewfinder and you get exactly what you see in the photo.'
One of the main elements that her portraits have in common is that all faces are hidden behind an object – in this photo, it's a red bag that's clasped between the person's cheek and a window. 'I'm always aware of litter. To me plastic bags are a thing of beauty, not ugliness. The material's almost transparent and exists in a sort of limbo because it's something people barely notice.' Diederix strips objects of their usual meaning and their original surroundings, setting them within a new reality.

Elspeth Diederix was resident artist at the Rijksakademie in 1998-1999.
She won the first prize of the 2002 Prix de Rome (NL).

www.elspethdiederix.com