Taste
ESTHER QUELLE
With a background as a fashion designer, Esther Quelle is also a photographer who brings a creative perspective to her photographic work. She observes and records quickly, seeking simplicity, tension and abstraction. "I like to look and I look very carefully, then I record my vision of reality." This week, three works close to her heart are on display at The Gallery.
With a background as a fashion designer, Esther Quelle, also a photographer, puts a creative stamp on her photo oeuvre. She observes and records very quickly and looks for simplicity, tension and abstractions. “I like to look and I look very carefully and then record my vision of reality.” This week Esther is hanging in The Gallery with three works that are close to her heart. Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Esther Quelle
South Africa
“This is a special photo for me. I usually photograph all success stories, especially for LXRY. People who have made it and can take all the chances in life. But here I visited a number of orphanages in South Africa for the Mamas Foundation (the old Nelson Mandela children's fund), while during that trip I also taught a director who wanted to delve more into photography. This was the other side of society. We had chosen two themes. Orphanages and Elephants. The latter was a passion of the director. Like a fly on the wall, Martin Hamilton (the director) and I moved through the orphanages. The stories were poignant and the images were beautiful. Very grateful work. In the future I would also like to work for more charities. You can capture beauty in every 'ugly' situation. I would like to show that beauty.”
LA Mex-Kishana
“I created this fashion series as free work by model Kishana. Since I love nature and especially have a love for cactus-like tropical plants, I wanted to shoot a series that looked foreign, but was shot in the Hortus Botanica in Amsterdam. It's fun to work with your own fascinations. Within fashion you need to have a whole team at your disposal and in this case, I did styling and make-up myself, because it was free work and I could therefore organize something at shorter notice and because at Hortus we don't could arrive with a large group. Obviously it is better to work with a team, then you can all concentrate on your own thing.”
The beginning
“This photo dates from my school days and was shot in the Miranda outdoor pool. I loved that I could complete assignments according to my own insights and creativity, without the expectations of a commercial application. My fascinations with water and abstractions are clearly reflected in this image. After completing the academy, I wanted to make art, but was forced to switch to commercial work, because I had to make a living with a newly formed family and because I was not making any money with my creative work. I think the time has come for a new period where I will challenge myself artistically again.”
