South likes: Daniel Gustav Cramer at Vera Cortês, Lisbon

South likes: Daniel Gustav Cramer at Vera Cortês, Lisbon
Tales
Vera Cortês Art Agency, Lisbon, Portugal
7 March – 3 May, 2014

Daniel Gustav Cramer’s ongoing Tales series has this subtle touch of humour and mockery that more or less all of his work possesses. Perhaps, this is also what makes this practice so crucially relevant despite its seemingly “gentle” forms and themes. The artist’s show at Vera Cortês is a selection of Tales. Each Tale is a photograph or group of photographs depicting mostly sceneries and at times, like in Tales 44 (Stresa, Lago Maggiore, Italy, September 2012), some minimal, mundane action. Even though those works hint at the entanglement of a narrative, it is precisely due to its absence or its mockery that they gain value. The Tales are not really tales, just fleeting instants, barely carrying any narrative quality. In Tales 11 (Akropolis, Athens, October 2010), for example, two visitors of the archeological site are just observing something hidden from view, presumably related to the ancient construction. In Tales 61 (Ayios Sosomenos, Cyprus, December 2012) and Tales 63 (Chrδzerenwald, Appenzell, November 2013), the stories evolve with the gradual changes of scenery caused only by the different shooting angles. Clearly, these are stories of shifting perspectives. Perhaps, this is why all photographs are reminiscent of the sight of an innocent voyeur watching from a distance and being disinterested at the same time.

Angeliki Roussou

http://www.veracortes.com/index.php?menu=exhibitions&section=1&view=135