Sjarmante en grasieuse stylgebruik is Anke Loots se estetiek

Vyf vrae aan die fotograaf

Jy is geneig om jou fotowerke twee-twee aan te bied. Die foto's tree in gesprek met mekaar, dikwels met oorvleuelende estetika, wat mekaar versterk deur 'n narratief aan te knoop. Die werke weerspreek mekaar ook. Wat is jou denkwyse agter die pairings?

I like to imagine my work having a connective thread that subconsciously links them together. I see my photos as a whole rather than singular images. There is very little thought that goes into the sequencing. It's more about looking at and feeling the photographs. They speak for themselves and to one another. 

Beskou jy jouself meer as 'n fotograaf, of eerder as 'n kunstenaar wat fotografie as medium gebruik? Is só 'n onderskeiding vir jou enigsins belangrik?

Photography has naturally become the primary tool I use to articulate myself. But I don't think drawing such a fine line is relevant at this time. Art can cross-pollinate with fashion and advertising, and I really love that it's accepted for mediums to interact in this way. What is important to me is to continuously sharpen whatever tool you choose to tell a story. 

Jy het vir 'n hele ruk saam met Pieter Hugo gewerk. Hoe het dit jou uitkyke en jou werk beïnvloed? Ek dink hier aan wat 'n kunstenaar moet doen om suksesvol te wees, binne jou siening van sukses. 

Working closely with someone, whose work has such a significant impact on modern culture, requires constant checking to make sure your language isn't derivative of theirs. It is challenging, but integral to my process of learning. I absorb and sit with it. Over time my voice will become louder, whilst still paying homage to the artists I admire. Success to me, in a photographic context, is having a unique artistic expression, with a skillset to match, all whilst being humble.

Met die skep van beelde trek mens dikwels inspirasie van 'n abstrakte ruimte waar vorige blootstelling aan beeldmateriaal geberg lê. Dit word genoem dat jou werk geïnterpreteer kan word as geïnspireer deur die styl van klassieke skilderye. Waar trek jy jou estetika vandaan?

Pieter's brilliantly curated photo monograph library that I'm lucky enough to have access to every day. Mostly I'm inspired by filmmakers and painters. Paolo Sorrentino has made a huge come back in my reference bank.

Hoe sterk is die band tussen jou werk se estetiese voorkoms en die blote waardering van die aangesig, teenoor politiese uitkyke en betrokkenheid met die samelewing en kultuur?

I strive to capture simple charm and grace, to celebrate the idealised versions of self and the elegance of my subjects. Perhaps the political silence in my pictures speaks of a much greater truth that connects us. I think there are vast amounts of space to tell stories of beauty.

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