Exploring the Human Body Through Eva Klasson's Unique Photographic Lens
The Borås Art Museum is currently hosting an exhibition that delves into the abstract and enigmatic landscapes of the human body, as captured by the lens of Eva Klasson. The exhibition presents a selection of Klasson's photographic works, primarily from her renowned series "Le troisième angle," along with pieces from subsequent collections such as "Ombilic" and "Parasites."
Klasson's approach to photography transforms the human form into an unfamiliar terrain. Her black-and-white close-ups reveal skin and bodily features as undulating hills, valleys, and textured surfaces. The resulting images offer a perspective where the body becomes almost unrecognizable, inviting viewers to interpret the forms as geographical or natural phenomena rather than anatomical details.
The exhibition is meticulously curated, featuring not only the photographs themselves but also supplementary materials such as contact sheets, exhibition reviews, and invitations. These items are displayed to provide context to Klasson's body of work and her impact on the photographic art scene in the late 1970s.
During her active years, Klasson garnered significant attention for her distinctive photographic style. Her works were exhibited at major venues, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and art spaces in Stockholm. The series "Le troisième angle" was notably published as a limited artist's edition, underscoring its significance in contemporary art photography.
After achieving early acclaim, Klasson stepped away from the art world, and her photographs receded from public view until being rediscovered in the early 2000s. The current exhibition at Borås Art Museum represents a renewed interest in her exploration of the body as both subject and medium.
Klasson's photography is characterized by experimentation and innovation. She often juxtaposed her images with minimal text on delicate rice paper, integrated airbrush drawings, and included provocative images of animal remains. These elements served to expand the narrative of the body, exploring both internal sensations and physiological processes through visual means. Her work reflects a heightened realism combined with introspective and imaginative elements, all meticulously captured through an unflinching lens.
Unlike other photographers of her era, Klasson's art maintains a detached, almost clinical perspective. Her focus on pure form and structure contrasts with the emotive and ephemeral qualities found in the self-portraits of contemporaries such as Francesca Woodman. While Woodman's photographs often evoke a sense of decay and dissolution, Klasson's work remains anchored in the physical reality of the body itself, with the camera acting as both recorder and interpreter.
The exhibition also includes a selection of early and late works, demonstrating the evolution of Klasson's photographic journey. Early images, depicting light streaming into abandoned interiors, offer insight into her development as an artist, while some later pieces feature surreal distortions of the human form. However, it is the series "Le troisième angle" that stands out as her most significant and enduring contribution to Swedish photographic history.
The Borås Art Museum's presentation of Eva Klasson's work invites visitors to reconsider the familiar and reflect on the boundaries between subject, observer, and the medium of photography itself. Through her innovative techniques and perspectives, Klasson has left a lasting imprint on the field, challenging perceptions of both the body and the art form.