Portrait of a Landscape. Pierre-Philippe Hofmann
Press release
The essence of the Swiss landscape on 72 screens
This Fall, the Flanders Architecture Institute and De Singel welcome the artist Pierre-Philippe Hofmann. Hofmann captures the essence of the Swiss landscape in a 36-metre-long video installation with a total of around 2,700 film fragments. Expect a surprising and versatile journey through a unique and diverse country.
Exhibition | 01.09.2021 – 09.01.2022, De Singel, Antwerp
Opening event | 31.08.2021at 8pm, De Singel, Antwerp
Portrait of a Landscape
For the project ‘Portrait of a Landscape’, Pierre-Philippe Hofmann completed ten walks from the external borders of Switzerland to the geographical midpoint Älggi Alp in the canton Obwalden. After every kilometre, he filmed his immediate surroundings, resulting in a total of 2700 films. The 36-metre-long video installation offers you a multifaceted view of the country. But with the 72 screens, Hofmann also wants to capture the essence of the landscape. As well as the impressive mountain landscapes, ‘Portrait of a Landscape’ also shows everyday scenes of playing children in the city and rubbish collection in the suburbs.
"Thought as a "representative panorama" of Switzerland, the project is, from many points of view, a simple research on the theme of normality and the ordinary."‐ DOMUS
Pierre-Philippe Hofmann
Pierre-Philippe Hofmann was born in Brussels and divides his time between his two homelands, Belgium and Switzerland. He previously exhibited the project Lieux Communs – Gemeenplaatsen (Common Spaces) at CIVA and Bozar in Brussels and is working on a new project in which the walker’s gaze plays a central role.
"Unlike walking, wondering implies that you are open to drifting"‐ Pierre-Philippe Hofmann
Book
Pierre-Philippe Hofmann travelled across Switzerland to capture the diversity of its landscape. In the book, this visual wealth is shared with the reader in a unique way. Using a smartphone or tablet, you can access more than a thousand videos and dozens of testimonies relating to the places the artist encountered on his path.
Opening event
On 31 August at 8 pm in De Singel, Antwerp we will discuss Pierre-Philippe Hofmann's work, the dialogue between architecture and landscape, and how to capture this dialogue in an exhibition and a book. Exhibition curator Heidi Ballet and researcher Steven Humblet will join Hofmann for the opening talk which will be moderated by Simon Delobel, director of KIOSK.
register herePortrait of a Landscape. Pierre-Philippe Hofmann
production
Flanders Architecture Institute and De Singel
curator
Flanders Architecture Institute
exhibition
Portrait of a Landscape
Wed 1 Sep 2021→ Sun 9 jan 2022
De Singel, Desguinlei 25, 2018 Antwerp
open Wed → Sun / 2 → 7pm and during evening performances
(closed on Mon & Tue)
free, but you need to register at vai.be
opening event
Portrait of a Landscape
di 31 Aug 2021
De Singel, Muziekstudio, Desguinlei 25, 2018 Antwerp
Portrait of a Landscape. Pierre-Philippe Hofmann is made possible by
Flanders Architecture Institute, De Singel and the Flemish Community
The programme of the Flanders Architecture Institute is made possible by
Reynaers Aluminium, Bulo, Gyproc, Stone, Modular, Febelcem, Wienerberger en Forster Dejond