Silence(d)

Aljohara Jeje

20.01.2022 - 03.03.2022

Mezzanine gallery

“What defines 'gender'? Is it biology or identity? Gender is defined by cultural values, traditions and customs, of which some might be marked by geographical boundaries, though not restricted and might wander to other parts of the world, over time”.

The establishment of The Netherlands’ independence in 1648 set off a flourishing epoch for painting. A distinctive feature of this 'Dutch Golden Age' was the 'genre painting' of which portraits of ordinary people proliferated. At the time, ruffs, crimped or pleated, wide and full, were the fashion for both men and women. Placement around the neck affected posture, forcing the wearer to keep their chin up and assume a proud and haughty pose: they were a potent symbol of status and wealth.

'Double Dutch' is a photography series portraying self-identified men wearing ruffs - a string of sanitary pads which are a symbol of fertility and usually serve biological women - throttled around their necks. 'Double Dutch' means in British English a language that is impossible to understand. The images are dye and pigment ink-printed on glossy paper that enhances the effect of craquelure, which gives the photographic images an allure of antiquity.

Download the catalogue here.