EXHIBITION FRECKLES & MORE | JUDITH MINKS
11.07.20 – 27.09.20
Chaos, order and perfection are three key concepts for photographer Judith Minks. These concepts come together in her critically acclaimed photo series “Freckles”; more than 100 portraits of people with freckles, from which Museum Henriette Polak has made a selection for this summer exhibition.
While freckles are considered one of the seven beauties and there is a strong association with sun and summer, those who own them are not always happy with it. Wrongly in the eyes of Minks: “The expression of people with freckles is largely determined by these pigmentation spots. Other facial elements such as eyes, nose, mouth and ears have regularity. They are always in the same place on the face. That does not apply to freckles. The irreconcilable arbitrariness with which freckles are distributed on the face makes freckle faces special and fascinating to me. ” For “Freckles” she literally crawled close to the skin of her subject. “Because I am between the light and the person portrayed, you can see my silhouette in the pupils of their eyes. That’s how I become a part of every portrait and all these freckles become part of me. ”
After graduating cum laude from the photo academy in Groningen in 2015, Minks initially focused on photo series in which she pursues perfection and complete control. She stages personal memories, experiences and fantasies in stylized and carefully illuminated sets. “Hotel room” and “Moments in time”, which can also be seen in the exhibition, are poignant examples. Minks photographs are reminiscent of the work of Erwin Olaf, Gregory Crewdson and Edward Hopper. The photos are intimate and distant at the same time, an intriguing combination.
