Johannes Schwartz - Passion

Cobra Museum of Modern Art in Amstelveen presents Johannes Schwartz's fascinating new exhibition, Passion. The exhibition runs from 27 March to 13 June, 2010.

House and home

For his latest exhibition, Schwartz visited a recently abandoned house to compile a new series of photographs. The sombre interior of the house barely seems to have changed since the fifties and provided intriguing subject matter, resulting in a series of film-like snapshots. The furniture and objects are a reflection of the personality of someone who lived in the house for many years.

Formula for success

Schwartz works to a fixed formula - he first determines a specific subject before exploring it in depth. In Passion, discarded plastic bags that were strewn about the house become the main subject. The seemingly arbitrary bags instantly rouse curiosity as their contents remain hidden. The strength of Schwartz's work lies in his ability to give the impression that the existing situations he photographs are actually meticulously staged arrangements.