about this work

When faced with the large-scale light box which functions as the ongoing display module for the In Light Of 25 Years series, artist Camille Henrot was reminded of her training in animation. Although the production of animation has by now gone mainly digital, light box based animation remains an essential part of animation studies.

During her research into the exhibition history of Witte de With, Camille Henrot was drawn to the works of Michelangelo Pistoletto, who used mirrors and photography to create trompe l’oeils where the distinction between physical objects and representations is blurred. Also of inspiration were the video works by Ulrike Ottinger, who had a solo exhibition at Witte de With in 2004. In these videos, a universe of strange characters unfolds, inspired by countercultures and questioning norms and morals.

For her new work, titled The Beaver Moon, Henrot drew two human-like characters and staged them as if involved in domestic activities of maintenance and cleaning, reminding us that exhibition spaces are the homes of artworks, and sometimes of artists as well. The creatures are ambiguous, existing somewhere between the realms of male and female, human and bird. They are reminiscent of the Egyptian god Thoth, who has the body of a man and the head of an ibis, and who was the god of writing, science, and magic. Thoth was believed to be self-begotten, and was considered the care-keeper of the universe.

This edition is part of a set that was produced in the context of Witte de With’s In Light Of 25 Years. On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, Witte de With examined its history, dedicating its ground-floor gallery to a series of commissioned presentations by a select group of contemporary artists. Each participant created an image-based work that analyzed certain sediments of contemporary art history. Presented on a large-scale double-sided light box these anniversary commissions were visible to the city day and night. Throughout 2015, In Light Of 25 Years functioned as a space for artists and curators to respond to developments in contemporary art, its landscape and possibilities, departing from Witte de With’s past program.

WDWXXV brings together the ten In Light Of 25 Years commissions. Presented in a slim Plexiglas box frame, inspired by the light box itself, this limited edition portfolio features ten high quality prints by the participating artists Özlem Altin, Wineke Gartz, Camille Henrot, Germaine Kruip, Mahony, Raimundas Malašauskas, Zin Taylor, Freek Wambacq, Lawrence Weiner, and Xu Zhen. Have a look at the individual artist pages to read more about each specific edition. 

about Camille Henrot

°1978, Paris (FR) – lives and works in New York (US)