Scarlett Hooft Graafland spent four months in the icy regions of northern Canada to create this series of photos filled with poetry and a sense of the unexpected; a mix of performance and photography set in dreamlike settings of endless stretches of snow.

Scarlett Hooft Graafland - Journey
© Scarlett Hooft Graafland courtesy Michael Hoppen Contemporary

These photos plunge us into a surreal and intriguing atmosphere, out of time. Humour is very present both as an element of surprise and in the composition of the photos, as if to lead us to question the messages: is this strange place in need of preservation? Is this culture and its folklore to be discovered? Is it a hidden treasure?

Scarlett Hooft Graafland - Green
© Scarlett Hooft Graafland courtesy Michael Hoppen Contemporary

Many questions come to mind in viewing these images as they are more than just an invitation to escape, they address concerns such as family, cultural integrity, and the environment.

Born in 1973 in the Netherlands, Hooft Graafland is based in both Amsterdam and New York. Her work to date has included sculpture, installations, photography and performance. She has studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, The Hague, Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem and Parsons School of Design, New York. She has had solo exhibitions all over Europe and has been part of group shows at the Metropolitan Museum, New York and Musée D’Orsay, Paris, amongst others.

‘You Winter, Let’s Get Divorced’ by Scarlett Hooft Graafland, at the Michael Hoppen Gallery from February 5 - March 29, 2009. All images © Scarlett Hooft Graafland, courtesy Michael Hoppen Contemporary

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