In the realm of contemporary photography, Felix Schoeppner stands out as a conceptual artist who challenges the boundaries between art and everyday life. His work, marked by meticulous craftsmanship and a deep exploration of themes like labor, technology, and perception, offers a unique perspective on the future of work and the human condition. This article delves into Schoeppner's creative process, his fascination with the mundane, and the profound insights his work provides into the relationship between humans and the tools they create.
A Unique Journey into Photography
Schoeppner's journey into photography is an intriguing blend of personal experiences and a desire to explore the medium's potential. Born to architects, he initially grappled with following in their footsteps. Instead, he found his calling in Communication Design, where he honed his technical skills in lighting and precision. His early work, including assisting renowned photographers, laid the foundation for his distinctive approach to still life and conceptual photography.
The Shift to Still Life and Conceptual Thinking
A pivotal moment in Schoeppner's career came when he shifted his focus to still life, a medium he had initially kept at arm's length. This change was catalyzed by a workshop led by Arno Rafael Minkkinen, whose intuitive and bodily-engaged approach to photography resonated with Schoeppner. Coming out of illness and isolation, still life became a therapeutic outlet, allowing him to explore personal themes and conceptual ideas.
Building Images from Scratch
Schoeppner's approach to photography is characterized by a meticulous process of construction and experimentation. He begins with a loosely defined idea or term, allowing the project to evolve organically. This open-ended process, which he likens to Tom Sachs' concept of 'creativity as the enemy,' involves constant testing and discarding, leading to a gradual refinement of the conceptual framework. The studio becomes a workshop where everyday materials and familiar objects are transformed into complex structures, challenging the viewer's perception of scale and reality.
Everyday Materials, Scientific Reference Points, and the Tension Between Recognition and Uncertainty
Schoeppner's work often explores themes from science, perception, and abstraction using everyday materials and models. He is drawn to the tension between recognition and uncertainty, creating images that feel immediate and intuitive but resist clear interpretation. This approach is rooted in his interest in how we interpret and relate to what we see, and how familiar objects can become abstract when viewed in a new context. His fascination with technical and mechanical processes, developed during childhood, continues to influence his work, where he assembles and reconfigures elements to understand their behavior.
Technical Process and the Evolution of Handle with Care
The technical process behind Schoeppner's work is a blend of precision and intentional imperfection. For his graduation project, 'Handle with Care,' he developed apparatuses known as 'mouse movers,' designed to simulate user activity on a computer while the person is absent. These devices, constructed from simple, everyday materials, reflect a broader interest in how people invent tools to avoid tasks they dislike. The project also explores the relationship between presence, productivity, and control, particularly in the context of remote work and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 'In-Between' State and the Future of Work
The 'in-between' state, reflected in the presentation of the mouse movers in their shipping cases, symbolizes the unstable and transitional nature of work in the age of automation and AI. Schoeppner's work challenges the traditional model of exchanging time for money, prompting a deeper question about the relevance of such systems in a world where output and efficiency are prioritized. His exploration of labor, technology, and control offers a critical perspective on the future of work, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the tools they create and the systems they operate within.
