Plage De Sebald 3 2019

Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the somber atmosphere; it feels incredibly isolated. Editor: Today, we're exploring Elina Brotherus’ diptych "Plage De Sebald 3," created in 2019. Brotherus is known for her work with photography and digital art. Her figures are often placed within landscapes, exploring the human relationship with nature and its reflection upon self-identity. Curator: The diptych form itself, a common compositional strategy here, is interesting. Note the strong vertical division—emphasized by its contrast with the horizon—does this rupture force you to reflect upon these panels in relation, despite that their relationship isn't initially explicit. How do you read that? Editor: The stark separation heightens the sense of loneliness for me. On the left, a figure sits, facing the turbulent sea; to their back sits an abandoned structure, seemingly built from stone. It feels as though they've retreated, both from the civilization offered by the structure behind them, as well as from the wild of the sea which is on the other side. I can’t help but to think that this location might represent the edge of conscious experience. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the distribution of light, too; how the sky's muted blues are almost mirrored in the shadowed rocks and waves, visually weighting each side differently. And, what do we make of this almost direct perspectival continuity across this division, suggesting they must have been standing in almost the exact same place for each capture, and still chose to exhibit both in relation? Editor: The consistency creates tension – it implies narrative. There's something mournful, perhaps reflective of W.G. Sebald’s themes, maybe something regarding memory, place, and loss? This location might resonate with the quiet abandonment found in his literature. Curator: True, true, perhaps both structural, as well as emotional, this work uses careful balancing to prompt feelings of isolated retrospection in the face of nature. Editor: Yes, this pairing creates a meditative space for reflection; I’m leaving with the melancholic acceptance of what it means to feel castaway from our own world.