'Nomansland' is an ongoing photographic project which was started in 2016. I first got inspired to create the 'Nomansland'-project after a close friend told me about her feelings of depression. Trying to explore her emotions through experimentations with photography, we realised that the intimate quality of nude-photography, as a medium that removes all layers of artificial defence, helped her to better reflect upon her discomfort and anxiety. 'Nomansland' grew entirely on motives of self-exploration and positions itself as the polar opposite of glossy, pseudo-erotic nude imagery, by portraying the 'anti'-aesthetic rawness of personality and character. Through time I got to collaborate with a variety of people who felt that this style of photography allowed them to discover new aspects about their own self-awareness and mental health whilst becoming more confident about themselves. Throughout these collaborations the project's title 'Nomansland' was set to represent a hypothetical place or mind-set through which one can free oneself of stereotypes and prejudice.
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The 'Nomansland'-project is comprised of close to 600 images (2020), which were taken over the course of the last 5 years. The 'Nomansland'-exhibition aimed to showcase a brief yet comprehensive insight into the ongoing project. Also for the first time, images from all three chapters of ‘Nomansland’, namely ‘Nomansland’ (2016-2017), ‘Return to Nomansland’ (2018-2019) as well as ‘In the Absence of God’ (2019-2020) were shown as one, unified project.
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The exhibition-finissage was accompanied by a performance 'NEWMANSLAND' by Rory Breaker Morant and Zarah Nguyen. She finissage featured poetry performances by Gabriela Moriarty, Swordfish, Christy Lai, Damage Control, The Jade Empress and movement performances by Marcia Benedicta Peschke, Project C Collaborative and Happening Art for Creative Society. NEWMANSLAND was supported by SuperFly Bangkok. Music by Bang Sue Electrix. Poster (below) by Zarah Nguyen.
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Special thanks to the team of JAM Bangkok especially Dhyan Ho (host) for the opportunity to exhibit the 'Nomansland' - series as well as to the many people who helped me make this show possible. Additional thanks goes out to a variety of news agencies who reported about the show, namely the Bangkok Post, Khaosod English, Time Out, Bangkok Haps and BK Magazine as well as J.D. Strange for his Interview (see articles/videos below). 'Nomansland'-light built by Lud Absolud.
