Structures

For her work entitled ‘Structures’, Esther Hovers created a series of photographs on linen. A material that can be folded repeatedly without tearing, linen has traditionally been the material of choice in the production of maps.

The starting point for this body of work was a series of human rights debates with teenagers. When asked the question: “What is a Visa?” the teens in most cases had no idea how to answer. From these discussions, the idea was born to focus on a portrayal of the so-called Erasmus generation, a generation born with freedom of movement and yet seemingly unaware of the extreme fortune of this situation.

The individual works that make up this project were made through a series of chance meetings in the city of Brussels. The still lifes and portraits have consciously been shot while walking. Hovers’ work was created in an essayistic manner while reflecting on the EU freedom of movement. The choice to use linen as the primary material for these works mimics the techniques of traditional map-making. The foldable nature of these prints references the structure not only of the material itself but the man-made concept of territory as a structure as well.

© Esther Hovers - At the moment, the entire ongoing series exists out of 26 prints.
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At the moment, the entire ongoing series exists out of 26 prints.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, EU, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, EU, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Erasmus, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Erasmus, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Unknown Soldier, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Unknown Soldier, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Ibrahim, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Ibrahim, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, 2016 - Ongoing 50 x 40 cm / 19.7 x 15.7 in. Found maps of Belgium, date unknown, paper glued on linen.
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Structures, 2016 - Ongoing 50 x 40 cm / 19.7 x 15.7 in. Found maps of Belgium, date unknown, paper glued on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Walking, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Walking, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Gaëlle, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Gaëlle, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Clouds, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Clouds, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Nele, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Nele, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

© Esther Hovers - Structures, Globe, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.
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Structures, Globe, 2019 58 x 46 cm / 22.8 x 18.1 in. Inkjet prints on Tosa Shi – 54 gsm, fixed on linen.

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