Sjoerd Knibbeler is attracted to the scientific quest – or dream – of discovering the world and the resulting inventions and technology that enables us to do so. In his work and practice he often takes a rudimentary approach to characterize and question the complex. Rather than simplifying, this allows him to outline the innately human qualities that lie at the core of technology: curiosity and inventivity.
His research revolves around the limitations of the visible world, which are constantly challenged by technological progression. Complex photographic tools are enabling us to see, envision and depict evermore, and access to their generated imagery has become instantaneous and ubiquitous. With so many of us becoming users of advanced technology, the relationship between experience and knowledge is changing on a societal level.
Knibbeler’s work could be explained as an attempt towards a strategy to approach this change. By placing himself in the position of a scientist or engineer, he wants to relate to our technological advancement on a personal and human level.
His research revolves around the limitations of the visible world, which are constantly challenged by technological progression. Complex photographic tools are enabling us to see, envision and depict evermore, and access to their generated imagery has become instantaneous and ubiquitous. With so many of us becoming users of advanced technology, the relationship between experience and knowledge is changing on a societal level.
Knibbeler’s work could be explained as an attempt towards a strategy to approach this change. By placing himself in the position of a scientist or engineer, he wants to relate to our technological advancement on a personal and human level.
This allows him to approach his image making with what some people call the wisdom of ignorance and he tries to maintain a sense of wonder, curiosity and play in the process.
After presenting Digging up Clouds for the first time at LhGWR in 2014, Knibbeler has had solo exhibitions at Foam Photography Museum, Espace Images, Contact Festival and Villa Noailles. Notable group exhibitions include Quickscan NL#02 at the Nederlands Fotomuseum and the Paris Photo / Aperture Foundation Photobook Awards, which included his shortlisted artist book Paper Planes. His work was awarded the Grand Prix du Jury Photographie in Hyères, France in 2015 and the same year he was selected as Foam Talent. His work is part of national and international museum collections like Maison Européenne Photographie, Foam Photography Museum, Nederlands Fotomuseum and Museum Voorlinden.
After presenting Digging up Clouds for the first time at LhGWR in 2014, Knibbeler has had solo exhibitions at Foam Photography Museum, Espace Images, Contact Festival and Villa Noailles. Notable group exhibitions include Quickscan NL#02 at the Nederlands Fotomuseum and the Paris Photo / Aperture Foundation Photobook Awards, which included his shortlisted artist book Paper Planes. His work was awarded the Grand Prix du Jury Photographie in Hyères, France in 2015 and the same year he was selected as Foam Talent. His work is part of national and international museum collections like Maison Européenne Photographie, Foam Photography Museum, Nederlands Fotomuseum and Museum Voorlinden.
Sjoerd Knibbeler | Travelling past matter- 22 april – 27 mei 2017
Sjoerd Knibbeler | Digging up clouds- 08 november 2014 – 17 januari 2015