LARP, Taking a Holiday from Everydayness by Charlotte Lybeer (October 19, 2009) 
(5 votes, average: 1.80 out of 5)
Loading ...
Categories / Documentary Portraiture / / Click here to open comments section, click again when done to close / Comments Off
Curator statement - Inge Henneman on Charlotte Lybeer
In her powerful images Charlotte Lybeer documents the experience of today's living in a highly artificial world. Her works focus on the staged and controlled environments of gated communities and theme parks. As a photographer Lybeer combines the curiosity of the journalist researching actual phenomena – symptoms of the global, capitalist crisis – the empathy of the detective infiltrating enclosed worlds, and the sensibility to capture the way fiction transforms reality. LARP, Lybeers new portrait series on view in ‘de Brakke Grond’ Amsterdam in november, is not about eccentric people. Instead she imagines the isolation and stillness of her subjects, their escapist desire to become the character of a dream, shaped by film, virtual reality and games. In these portraits the everyday environment clashes with the fictive identity of the subjects, a self more pure perhaps than the ‘original’? Inge Henneman is curator of the Photo Museum Province Antwerp.
Next / Nostalgia Is Bittersweet / Previous / A Community That Lived In Isolation For Over 100 Years /
Our poll "A photo essay always needs a great written story" closed. 267 people voted, 28% agrees, 72% disagrees. 233 people answered our follow-up question "Are you a photographer?" 82% indicated they are, 18% said no. Initially, negative answers to question #1 were almost 100% as was the pecentage of photographers among respondants. Then, when the level of non-photographers started to rise, the percentage of people indicating good text is always essential started to rise too. This seems to indicate that non-photographers think that adding good text to your photo essays is essential. In my opinion: if you want non-photographers to dig your work, you know what to do...
I have been studying certain capsular aspects of our society in photography since 2003. [explanatory note: Flemmish philosopher Lieven de Cauter published a book entitled The Capsular Civilization. In it she describes man as a being that has become alienated from himself and who experiences life from the false safety of selfmade capsules. Examples are enclosed suburbs, amusement parks and shopping malls, but also cars and subway trains that take us from one of these places to the other on a daily basis.]
These capsular aspects can be found easily in gated communities and theme parks. They contain realities that become increasingly artificial. Most of the themes chosen for amusement parks have no connection with the site's history and are made up by the developers.
Apparently, local inhabitants and theme park visitors are happy to life in such a scenery. They move around a stage that meets their idealized surroundings, one that refers to motion pictures, television, games and advertising.
The work presented here is a gallery of portraits of Belgian and Dutch LARP players. LARP stands for Live Action Role-Playing, an American invention that has become popular in Europe.
LARP gatherings are events in which participants play out a certain character in a fictitious setting. Characters can be fully based on a participant's imagination, but can also be inspired by movies, books and games. Styles vary from historical to fantasy and futuristic. Participants transform into vampires, super heroes, elfs, warriors and play their part, set either in a real place, in a darker shade of it, or in outer space.
We can be anybody, anywhere. In my portraits, I have taken back the LARP people to their own living rooms. The costumes that show us the participant's character when in LARP mode contrast with the homely atmosphere and utensils that reveal small things about the participant when ‘out of character.’
Charlotte Lybeer (1981) lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.
Click weblink charlottelybeer.be or browse our archives
Out now! 50pm new issue
Sports Issue Magazine App
Posted in category 647
