Scheltens & Abbenes: Unfolded

Dutch artists Maurice Scheltens and Liesbeth Abbenes unveil their graphic and illusory photographic tableaux of often overlooked objects. Taking inspiration from hanging laundry, iconic architecture or exacting auction catalogs, the couple of 12 years produce beautiful vistas that may seem digitally manipulated but are in fact physically orchestrated. “The camera is placed in a very precise position giving a precise perspective,” explains Scheltens, on the eve of the pair’s debut exhibition opening at the Museum Jan Cunen in Oss, Netherlands. “If it were to move slightly left or right the image would fall apart.” Hints at the technical construction remain, with pieces of sticky tape lingering in the pictures, while textural details or contrasting colors are highlighted through tightly cropped close-ups. “It is about creating an illusion or a graphic representation that communicates,” Scheltens continues. “We are not trying to tell a story; if we get caught up in that, it doesn’t seem to work for us.” Having had their work grace the pages of The New York Times Style Magazine, Fantastic Man, and AnOther Magazine, and collaborated with the likes of Hermés and Yves Saint Laurent, Scheltens and Abbenes are releasing a book of their stunning photography to coincide with the Unfolded exhibition through Kodoji Press.