In the realm of contemporary photography, Felix Schoeppner stands out as a conceptual artist who challenges the boundaries between art and everyday life. His work, particularly the series 'Handle with Care', delves into the intricate relationship between work, technology, and control, offering a unique perspective on the future of labor. This article explores Schoeppner's creative process, his fascination with scientific themes, and the technical intricacies that shape his distinctive style.
A Unique Artistic Journey
Schoeppner's artistic path is an intriguing blend of personal experiences and technical training. Born into an architectural family near Frankfurt, he initially grappled with following in his parents' footsteps. Instead, he discovered photography through a borrowed camera and skateboarding, which sparked his interest in the medium. His studies in Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt provided a strong technical foundation, particularly in lighting and precision. However, it was his encounter with Arno Rafael Minkkinen's intuitive and bodily-engaged approach at the RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt that truly transformed his artistic direction.
The Evolution of Still Life
The shift towards still life photography marked a significant turning point in Schoeppner's career. This change in approach allowed him to move away from reacting to situations and towards constructing them. His series 'Cognition', which marked his public arrival, showcased everyday materials and familiar objects arranged in scientific reference points, challenging the viewer's perception of scale and uncertainty. The process of creating these images, often taking weeks or months, involves a meticulous construction phase followed by photography, where the camera becomes a tool to record the artist's decisions.
Scientific Themes and Everyday Materials
Schoeppner's work is characterized by its exploration of scientific themes and everyday materials. He is drawn to the tension between recognition and uncertainty, creating images that feel accessible at first but resist clear readings upon closer inspection. This approach is rooted in his fascination with technical and mechanical processes, which began in his childhood with Lego building. His current practice involves assembling, testing, and reconfiguring elements to understand their behavior, resulting in images that operate between object, model, and representation.
Technical Mastery and Innovation
The technical process behind Schoeppner's work is a marvel in itself. From building models to lighting, focus stacking, and post-production, each step is meticulously executed. His choice of materials, such as chipboard and aluminum profiles, reflects their accessibility, functionality, and flexibility. Lighting has evolved to emerge from within the scene, creating a sense of a constructed environment. The apparatuses in 'Handle with Care', designed to simulate user activity on computers, showcase a high level of ingenuity and improvisation, often constructed from simple, everyday materials.
Handle with Care: A Reflection on Labor and Control
'Handle with Care' is a project that examines the relationship between work, technology, and control. It sparked from Schoeppner's interest in how inventive people become when trying to avoid tasks they don't want to engage with. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized this theme, as remote work led to new forms of autonomy and strategies to simulate activity. The project's apparatuses, presented in shipping cases, reflect the unstable and transitional nature of work in the age of automation and AI.
In conclusion, Felix Schoeppner's work is a testament to the power of conceptual photography. His ability to blend scientific themes with everyday materials and his technical mastery create images that are both thought-provoking and visually captivating. 'Handle with Care' serves as a reflection on the future of labor and the intricate relationship between humans and technology, offering a unique perspective on the evolving nature of work.
