Diana Scherer - The Photographers` Gallery

DIANA SCHERER
The photos Scherer has produced for Nurture Studies recall the illustrations in
seventeenth-century botanical encyclopaedias, which presented flowers roots and
all. Her work also has strong similarities with 1970s plant books, in which indoor
plants were often arranged on a pedestal and set off with fabrics that added a
romantic touch to the whole. Although clearly referring to these predecessors,
Scherers work is firmly rooted in contemporary culture.
Scherer has no difficulty avoiding the perceived cosiness of the “pot plant” genre.
Her images are bare, unadorned. The careful observer will notice that most of the
plants are anything but perfect specimens. Brown edges and broken stems show
that mortality is already making its presence felt. The pink aster’s leaves are
already dying off and other plants, dandelion and cow parsley for instance,
wouldn’t be deemed worthy of a second glance on the side of the road. Scherer
treats them all as equals.
Behind this objective methodology, there is a great deal of emotion at work. More
than anything else, Scherer’s process of collecting, nurturing and documenting is a
display of tenderness, ritualistic love that remains hidden to the viewer, but still
infuses the vulnerable final images with its almost tangible presence.
EDITION INFORMATION
Prices start from €600 + vat.
Print size ranges from 18 x 23 cm to 90 x 100 cm
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SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibitions
2012 Nofound Photofair, Paris, France
2010 Chilling, De Dijk; Oba Library, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2007 European Ceramic Workcenter (EKWC), Den Bosch, the Netherlands
2004 Theo; Buro Leeuwarden, Fries Museum, the Netherlands
2003 Neue Arbeiten; Gallery Van Zoetendaal, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Group Exhibitions
2011 Still/Life, Contemporary Dutch Photography, Foam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2011
Face, Head & Shoulders, The Contemporary Photographic Portrait, Copenhagen,
Germany
2011
Sunny Side Up; Margate Photo Festival, UK
2011
Colllectie Imaginaire; Arti & Amicitiae, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2011
Romantic Construct; Prague Biennale, Prague, Czech Republic
2011
Omslag VPRO-Gids; Designmuseum, Breda, the Netherlands
2011
The Show Must Go On; Capricious Space, New York
2011
Gallery Lumc, Leiden, the Netherlands
2011
Festival Circulation, Paris, France
2011
RKD, Den Haag, the Netherlands
2010
2010
2010
2010
Tiny Vices; New Work, New York; USA (Curator Tim Barber;)
VHS Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany
Recollecting History; Seelevel Gallery, Amsterdams Centrum voor Fotografie;
Familiezaken; Gallery Lumc, Leiden, the Netherlands
Arti & Amicitiae, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2009
2009
Quantumvis V; De Servicegarage, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Dead Darlings, auction; Mediamatic, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2008
2007
Photographers Network; Siegen, Germany
Nomination Photofestival Hyeres, Photography Competition, France
The Van Zoetendaal Collection; Fotomuseum Den Haag, the Netherlands
The Living Other; Foam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Best of Arles; Farmani Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Criteria; Galeria Perdida, Mexico
Criteria; Projektraum Schalter, Berlin, Germany
2006
2006
2006
2006
2006
2006
Yip Art Auction; Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Art Amsterdam; Gallery Van Zoetendaal, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Artiste, Teppiste / Artistic Hooligans; Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Ferarra, Italy
Portaal naar de hemel; Frans Hals Museum/De Hallen, Haarlem
Dutch Insight; Municipal Museum of Art, Daejon, Korea
Everyday Is Not Like Everyday; Qeensday, Foam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005
Dutch Insight; Kumho Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
Cadres Revisites; l’Institut Néerlandais, Paris, France
Women Inc.; Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Instant Oddity; Gallery Van Zoetendaal, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Marks of Honours; Foam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Musis Sacrum; Musis Sacrum Project, Arnhem
2004
2004
Verworpenen & Zondagskinderen; Frans Hals Museum/De Hallen, Haarlem
Kunstrai, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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2003
2003
Paris Photo, Paris, France
Moved; Gallery Van Zoetendaal, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2002
2002
2002
2002
Amsterdams Centrum voor Fotografie (ACF), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Mobiele Units, Filmfestival; Nieuwe Vide, Utrecht
3D Biënnale Liege; Liege
Compare Contrast; Fries Museum/Buro Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden
AWARDS
2012
2010
2010
2008
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Basis Stipend; Mondrian Foundation
Bouw in Beeld Prijs (2nd prize)
VPRO-Gids; Mercur Best Cover 2010
Nomination Photofestival Hyeres, Photography Competition, France
Gregers Nielsen Award 2006; Brandts Museum of Photography, Denmark
Basis Stipend; Bonds BKVB
Starter Stipend; Bonds BKVB
Starter Stipend; Bonds BKVB
Long List; Prix de Rome, Photography
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SELECTED PRESS
Hot Shoe, Contemporary Photography, December 2012 – January 2013
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Hyeres Photofestival, 2008