PHOTO:Stéphanie Solinas-Dominique Lambert/Le Pourquoi Pas?
Trained in photography Stéphanie Solinas developed a varied practice including book and installation to further investigate the medium of photography. Through sophisticated systems, we discover her attraction to the idea of the individual in the cotemporary society and their unique characteristics, in particular, the concept of identity as an area of contact between the Self and the Other.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Foam Archive
Stéphanie Solinas in her solo exhibition “Dominique Lambert / Le Pourquoi Pas?” at Foam in Amsterdam presents two series of her work. Solinas investigates the shared role of the artist, the scientist and the medium as moderators of reality. Her methodical approach stands in stark contrast to the more subjective character of her subject-matter: identity, memory and the invisible world of the mind. “Le Pourquoi Pas?” (2014-16) is the most recent work of the artist, which premiers at Foam. During a residency in Reykjavik, the artist consulted mediums, geneticists and other experts of the mind. Solinas let their observations and instructions guide her through the Icelandic landscape that proved abundant with spirits, elves and other invisible presences. In her video “Le Pourquoi Pas ?, la dette de l’âme” (2014) we observe Thorhallur Gudmundsson, famous Icelandic medium, in a private sitting with Ragnheidur, the presence of Jane, the deceased friend of Ragnheidur accompanies them. In the lava fields of Iceland, known as places where elves live, Stéphanie Solinas inserted photosensitive paper into the rocks, creating a series of cyanotypes she called “Equivalents”. In doing so, she does not attempt to prove or disprove the existence of the supernatural, but simply to record a possible parallel reality – the why not? In France Dominique is the most common name applied to both genders. It is also the 27th most popular name overall. The 27th most popular surname is Lambert. According to the telephone directory, there are 191 Dominique Lamberts in France. For “Dominique Lambert” (2003-09), Stéphanie Solinas spent seven years inventorying the identity of every listed Dominique Lambert in France. After collecting various tests on the characterology of the forename Dominique, a letter was sent to each Domnique Lambert requesting that they complete a Chinese Portrait* and a personality test. To the 65 who replied was then requested a copy of their photographic ID. 20 copies were received from the Chinese Portraits received. Based on their answers, she had descriptions made by a special committee consisting of a psychologist, a statistician, a police inspector and a legal expert. Their profiles formed the starting point for a series of drawings, that in turn was the basis for a series of computer-generated portraits by the police. Finally, Solinas photographed real individuals who resembled these animations. The true identity of the Dominique Lamberts remains ambivalent; the passport pictures they sent are shown upside-down. With her chain of translations Solinas questions the little-challenged status of photography – and other official methods of identification – as the ultimate representation of the individual.
*Chinese portrait is a metaphorical description of oneself by a comparison with various things or elements like: a tree, a flower, a film, an historical character, a dish etc.
Info: Info: Foam, Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam, Duration 24/2-16/4/17, Days & Hours: Mon-Wed & Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu-Fri 10:00-21:00, www.foam.org
