Composition CXIII
Henri van Noordenburg
- Sitter: Henri van Noordenburg
- Medium: Hand carved inkjet print on Hahnemühle
- Dimensions: 70cm x 70cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork
Throughout his artistic career, Henri van Noordenburg has used self-nude portraits to explore the idea of belonging, not just in relation to place, but also in response to the global shift from rural to urban living and its impact on the natural environment.
In this self-portrait he reflects on the broader human diaspora, whether driven by natural disaster or injustice rooted in religion, race, gender or sexuality, and searches for a vision of a modern utopia.
“The dark forest and vulnerable figure in the work are a metaphor for the effects our current climate and state of the world have on our health and wellbeing.”
The photograph in the work was created in collaboration with Brisbane based portrait photographer Thomas Oliver. The final image was made by drawing with a scalpel and sandpaper onto an inkjet print, the careful removal of ink and paper layers creating a delicate surface symbolic of humanity’s fragility.
About the artist
Brisbane based artist and photographer Henri van Noordenburg completed a Masters in Photography at Queensland University of Technology in 2004. He has shown in multiple solo and group exhibitions and has been a finalist in many art prizes. He won the Clayton Utz Art Award in 2012 and 2020 and his work is held in both public and private collections.
