Kompas before 1896

This photographic print, titled "Kompas", presents a study in contrasts through its diptych composition. One side reveals an x-ray of a hand, its skeletal structure laid bare, while the other displays a compass, its needle pointing towards an unseen magnetic north. The stark monochrome palette flattens both images, reducing them to studies of form and texture. The x-ray's ghostly translucence contrasts with the compass's sharp, mechanical lines and the circular motif that dominates its design. This juxtaposition prompts reflection on themes of visibility and invisibility, direction and disorientation. These juxtaposed images act as semiotic markers, each alluding to broader systems of knowledge and interpretation. The x-ray signifies scientific insight into the body, while the compass symbolizes our quest for orientation within the world. The artist invites us to question the relationship between inner understanding and external navigation, suggesting that both are essential, yet inherently limited, means of making sense of our existence.