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, marked by meticulous craftsmanship and a deep exploration of themes like labor, technology, and perception, offers a unique perspective on the future of work and the human condition. This article delves into Schoeppner's creative process, his fascination with the mundane, and the profound insights his work provides into the relationship between humans, machines, and the act of creation.
The Birth of a Photographer
Schoeppner's journey into photography began with a borrowed camera and a skateboarding session, an unlikely combination for a photographer whose work now demands rigorous conceptual rigor. Growing up near Frankfurt, surrounded by the cultural milieu of museums and the architectural legacy of his parents, he initially grappled with the idea of following in their footsteps. However, a Nikon D40 and a growing fascination with photography set him on a different path. His studies in Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt, coupled with years of assisting renowned photographers, laid the foundation for his technical prowess, particularly in lighting and precision.
The Shift to Still Life
A pivotal moment came in 2017 when a series of personal events disrupted his documentary project, 'Artificial Landscapes'. The end of a relationship and a cancer diagnosis forced him to withdraw from his work, but also led him to a workshop at RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt.RheinMain, led by Arno Rafael Minkkinen. This encounter with Minkkinen's intuitive and bodily-engaged approach to photography marked a turning point. Still life, which he had initially kept at arm's length, suddenly opened up as a space for conceptual thinking and personal expression.
Cognition and Beyond
His series 'Cognition', which marked his public arrival, showcased his unique approach to photography. By arranging everyday materials and familiar objects in ways that challenge scale and perception, Schoeppner creates images that are both accessible and ambiguous. The solar system image in 'Cognition', for instance, took three days to make, demonstrating his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary.
Handle with Care: A New Direction
Now, with his Master's in Visual Communication at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, Schoeppner's graduation project, 'Handle with Care', takes his work to a new level. This project explores the relationship between work, technology, and control, particularly in the context of automation and AI. The 'mouse movers' he developed within this project are devices designed to simulate user activity on a computer, revealing the ingenuity and humor people employ to avoid tasks they don't want to engage with.
The Technical Process
Schoeppner's technical process is as intricate as his conceptual framework. From building models to lighting, focus stacking, and post-production, every step is carefully considered. He uses chipboard and aluminum profiles, materials that are both functional and flexible, allowing him to create constructions that can withstand actual stress and hold their own as physical entities. His lighting approach, which often emerges from within the scene itself, adds a layer of realism and depth to his images.
The Human Touch
What sets Schoeppner's work apart is his ability to infuse it with a human touch. Despite the technical precision of his constructions, his images exude a sense of warmth and familiarity. This is evident in the way he uses everyday materials and objects, and in the subtle traces of the process visible in his constructions. His choice of perspective, guided by intuition, ensures that his images are not just technically impressive but also emotionally engaging.
The Future of Work
'Handle with Care' raises profound questions about the future of work and the relationship between humans and machines. As remote work becomes more common, the line between presence and productivity blurs, leading to new forms of autonomy and strategies to simulate activity. Schoeppner's work, with its focus on the ingenuity of avoidance and the 'in-between' state of his apparatuses, offers a critical perspective on these developments. It invites us to reflect on the relevance of the traditional model of exchanging time for money and to consider alternative systems based on output or efficiency.
Conclusion
Felix Schoeppner's work is a testament to the power of art to challenge our assumptions and provoke thought. Through his meticulous craftsmanship and deep exploration of themes like labor, technology, and perception, he invites us to reconsider the relationship between humans, machines, and the act of creation. As we look to the future, his work serves as a reminder of the importance of human ingenuity and the need to balance technological advancement with a deep understanding of the human condition.
