Jos de Gruyter & Harald Thys

Micheline Szwajcer, Antwerp

Micheline Szwajcer

Installation view of a gallery space with two white walls, white ceiling, and grey floor. The wall in front of us forms a corner with a wall to the right in the image. Where the wall in front of us end to the left in the image, the room extends in the form of a corridor through which natural light seeps in. On the wall in front of us we can see three color photographs of puppets in portrait format. The series continues on the wall to the right, where we can see two photographs. In the ceiling, parallel to the wall in front of us, we can see a large beam. Perpendicular to the beam, three rows of fluorescent light tubes extend into the room. The grey floor is polished, and reflects the fluorescent light, and the photographs.

Installation view of a gallery space with two white walls forming a corner in the center of the image, white ceiling, and grey floor. On each wall, we can see two color photos in portrait format of various puppets against white backgrounds. The photos are part of the same series and hung in equal intervals. In the ceiling, parallel left wall, we can see a large beam. Behind it, we can glimpse fluorescent light tubes illuminating the left wall.

Installation view of a gallery space with a white wall, white ceiling, and grey floor. On the wall, we can see three color photographs in portrait format hung in equal intervals. The photographs are part of the same series of portraits of various puppets and objects against white backgrounds.

View of a sculpture on a grey floor in front of a white wall. The sculpture appears to be from metal sheets coated in various colors. The sculpture has two pillars, and forms a rounded arch. The left pillar consists in a blue rectangular sheet, stabilized at the floor by smaller, perpendicular, square sheets functioning like feet. At the top, the rectangle emanates in a smaller rectangle at its center, from which the shape of a face protrudes. The right pillar is similar to the left but coated in red paint, and rotated 45 degrees. The protruding face is seen in profile. From the right, red pillar to the left, blue pillar, a third piece in the same shape but in purple color forms an arch. The top of the purple piece with a protruding face is attached to the top of the blue pillar, and the bottom to the red pillar above the protruding face.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet facing us, standing in the corner of a room with white walls and dark grey wall-to-wall carpet. His feet are turned slightly outwards, and his right arm is hanging to his side. In his raised left hand, he is holding a large umbrella in blue and white. His skin is light and he has dark, short hair, combed to sides. He is wearing blue FILA shorts that end just above his knees, exposing his thin legs. On his feet, he is wearing black, velcro sneakers and white puma socks. On his upper body, he is wearing a thin-striped blue and white button-down shirt with purple buttons, white collar and white cuffs. His facial expression is neutral, except for his eyes, which are wide open as he is staring out of frame, slightly to our right. He is cross-eyed, and his thin, brown eyebrows are raised above the nose. His body posture is stiff. The puppet is supported by a black stand in the form a circular plate on the floor and a narrow black pole.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet seated on a brown wooden chair in front of a painting on an easel to the left in the image. The puppet is seen in slight profile, facing the easel. In his left hand help just above his left knee, we can see a grey, square palette with white paint. His right arm is held up but obscured by the painting, of which we can see a part from behind to the left in the foreground. He is wearing white and red checkered pants with white patches stitched to the left knee. On his upper body, he is wearing a white loose button-down shirt, a black west with golden buttons and patterned pieces of cloth stitched to the bodice, and a yellow scarf around his neck. His skin is light, almost yellow in tone, and his eyes are bright blue and focused on the painting. He is wearing a black topper hat with a yellow flower sticking up. From underneath the hat, grey-blonde, curly hair sticks out. Behind the puppet, we can see a white textured wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the center of the photograph, we can see a classical street lamppost, cropped above the base. The pole is black, ornamented, and narrows below the lantern. The black lantern has four perspex panels, of which two are visible from our angle. Above the panels, we can see a black roof. From within the lantern, a warm light emanates. The lamppost is photographed standing closely against a white textured wall, and we can see its sharp shadow directly to its left.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a puppet standing on a horizontal, square platform, against a white textured background. The puppet is facing us; its right arm is hanging to its side, and in its raised left hand, it holds a tall wooden stick. It is wearing torn, brown, suede boating shoes, black pilot glasses covering its eyes, and a light beige knitted cardigan with a hoodie over its head. Its skin is light, almost white, and from underneath the hoodie, a blonde fringe sticks out. Above the glasses, we can see blonde eyebrows and two blank, white eyes with no irises or pupils. Its mouth is half open, revealing teeth in poor conditions and a red tongue or blood. The beige cardigan ends at its knees, and the puppet's lower legs are covered in reddish-brown, curly body hair. On the platform below the puppet, we can see broken bottles, three mice, dirt, and a soiled towel.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet facing us, cropped at the knees. His arms are hanging to his sides, and in his right hand, he is holding a brown, leather briefcase. His skin is light, and he is wearing a khaki green trench coat, a tucked in black scarf, and a black panama hat. He has a large nose and large ears, small light blue eyes, and short eyebrows raised above his nose. At his templates, we can glimpse short, curly, grey hair. His eyes are widened, and he is staring straight ahead. His body posture is stiff. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. At its left and right wrist, we can see its sharp shadows cast on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a female puppet facing us, visible from the knees up. She is seated in front of a pottery wheel, on which we can see a large, cylindrical shape in beige clay with horizontal indents. On each side side of the clay, we can see her hands held out, as if about to start working. She is wearing an apron in grey linen, and grey and green striped scarf in linen draped over her shoulders. Her skin is white, and her hair is strawberry blonde, in curls down to her shoulders. She has a pointy nose and a double chin. The edges of her mouth point downwards. Her lips are thin and purple, her eyes are green, and here curved eyebrows reddish. She looks straight at us. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. To her right, we can see sharp shadows cast on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a puppet facing us, visible from the knees up. The puppet is seated with their back against a wall, and in front of them, we can see a traditional, wooden spinning wheel to the left and a spindle to the right. The puppet is holding their hands in front of them above their lap, between which they have winded brown thread from the spindle. The puppet is wearing a skirt or apron made from blue and white striped linen. On their upper body, they are wearing a black button down west over a white tie-neck shirt. Their skin is white, and their long hair is straight and dark, hanging down over their right shoulder. Their mouth is closed, and the lips are dark red. The face is long, oval shaped, and the nose large. Their eyes are green and the dark eyebrows are raised above the nose. They are looking out of the frame, slightly above us, with widened eyes. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. To its left, we can see sharp shadows on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a puppet in profile, kneeling on a chair, visible from the thighs and up. Their elbows are resting on the wooden back rest of the chair, and their hands are positioned in prayer. Their upper body and head is leaning backwards, and their gaze is lifted to the sky. They are wearing khaki colored pants, and a patterned cardigan with collar and pockets in khaki, purple, black, and burgundy, over a khaki shirt. Their skin is a pinkish white, and their hair is brown, straight and shoulder length. Their lips are pink, and their mouth closed. The eyebrows are brown, and raised above the nose. The wide eyes green, and the skin is slightly freckled. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. To its right side, we can see sharp shadows on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a puppet in slight profile, visible from below the knees and up. The puppet is standing behind a white metal grid, such as the door of a gate or prison cell. The puppet is wearing a long sleeved dress tie-neck dress in black satin. We can see their right arm and hand. Their hair is golden brown, frizzy, and ends above the shoulders. Their eyebrows are golden brown, and their eyes dark brow. The puppet is looking straight ahead with wide eyes. The nose and mouth is obscured by the white grid in the foreground. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. Behind their head, we can see a sharp shadow on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation view. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a female puppet seated in a wooden rocking chair. She is facing left, and visible from the legs up. She is knitting a black and white piece with a geometrical pattern, and over her lap she is holding two metal knitting needles in her hands. Her upper body and head are slightly titled backwards, and her gaze is raised. She is wearing a black button down vest dress over a white blouse with a large square collar. Her skin is pinkish white, and her straight hair is pitch black and cropped at shoulder length. Her skin is shiny, and her mouth is the same color as her skin. Her eyebrows are black, and raised above the nose. Her black eyes are widened, and she stares into space. Her body posture is stiff. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. To its right, we can see sharp shadows on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a female puppet standing in a corner. She is facing us, and visible from the knees up. She is wearing a knee-length dark green woolen coat with collar over a black turtle neck and dark grey skirt. Her hands are in the pockets. Her skin is white, and her hair is wavy, short and silver grey. Her eyebrows are thin and curved, and her eyes light blue. Her nose is straight and her thin lips are pink. The corners of her mouth are turned slightly downwards. Her face is square and she has a double chin. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. Behind her head, we can see a sharp shadow on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet from the knees and up. He is facing to the left, and seated in front of a piano or similar key instrument with a wooden casing, visible in profile in the foreground to the left. The puppet is staring straight ahead, and its hands are lifted above the instrument, as if in the middle of playing. He is wearing blue trousers, and a white and red striped vest over a white satin blouse with ruffled neck and the arms. His blonde hair is cut in a bowl cut, and his skin is light, almost white. His lips are thin, and he is frowning, as if concentrating. His eyes and eyebrows are brown. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. To its right, we can see sharp shadows cast on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet from the knees up, sitting down on a chair facing us. Its right arm is hanging to the side, and in its left hand, the puppet is holding a smaller puppet, sitting on its left knee. The large puppet is wearing beige pants, and an olive colored blouse with black lace cuffs underneath a blue short sleeved button down shirt with pockets. Around its neck, we can see an off white lace collar with lace tie. Its skin is light, almost white, and it has brown curly hair that hangs down behind the shoulders. Its eyes are brown and open wide, staring out of frame slightly above us. Its eyebrows are dark brown, thin and raised above the nose. The mouth is closed, and the lips full and purple in color. On its chin and cheek, we can see thin, curly, brown facial hair. The small puppet straddles the large puppet's left leg. It is wearing black leather boots and a brown onesie with blue buttons. Its skin is light purple, and it has short black hair, black beard, eyebrows, and mustache. Its eyes are wide, purple, and stares straight ahead. The puppets are photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. Underneath the chair, we can see its sharp shadow cast on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet facing us, visible from the waist and up, standing behind a wooden table with a marble top. In his hands, the puppet is holding a wooden bread roller, under which we can see a layer of white dough, rolled thin. To the left on the table, we can see prop tomatoes, onions, oil and vinegar in a small, porcelain bottle in the figure of a cartoonish rooster. To the right, a brown, braided bottle with green, glass cork. The puppet is wearing a white double buttoned chef's shirt and a white chef's hat. His skin is light, almost orange, and underneath the hat, black, straight hair sticks out. His eyes are dark, and he is staring straight ahead. Underneath his wide nose, we can see a black mustache. His forehead is shiny. The puppet is photographed positioned closely against a textured white wall. Behind him, we can see a sharp shadow on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. To the right in the photograph, we can see a male puppet in profile, cropped at the knees. His back is leaned against the wall as he is bent over a grinding stone wheel, sharpening a knife that he is holding between his hands. The grinding stone is of an traditional type, and sits on a metal axe in a wooden box. The puppet is wearing red socks and black pants with side buttons that end at above the knees. On his upper body, he is wearing a white shirt underneath a pink double buttoned vest. On his head he is wearing a black top hat, and glasses in silver frames. His skin is light, his lips pink and narrow, and his nose is large and sharp. His eyes are dark, and from underneath the hat, straight strawberry blond hair bluntly cut below the ears stick out. He is looking at the knife in his hands. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall, against which we can see its sharp shadow cast.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a puppet facing us, cropped at the knees. Its left leg is raised, and with its knee and left hand, the puppet holds a red zither, which strings it plays with the right hand. The puppet is wearing light pink pants and purple tie-neck blouse with white pearl buttons. The skin of the puppet is light, and its face is framed by a blonde bob with bangs. Its eyes are light blue, and staring straight ahead. The blond eyebrows are hardly visible. The lips are thin and pink, and the nose straight. The posture is stiff, and the eyes are widened. The puppet is photographed positioned closely in front of a textured white wall. On its left hand, we can see its sharp shadow cast on the wall.

Close view of a color photograph in previous installation views. The photograph is rectangular and in portrait format. In the photograph, we can see a male puppet facing us, cropped just below the knees. He is standing in front of a white textured wall. His right arm is hanging closely to his side, and in his raised left hand position directly below his chin, he is holding a large umbrella in blue and white, which is largely out of frame. The shaft of the umbrella extends vertically across the center of his face. His skin is light and he has dark, short hair, combed to sides. He is wearing blue FILA shorts that end just above his knees, exposing his thin legs. On his upper body, he is wearing a thin-striped blue and white button-down shirt with purple buttons, white collar and white cuffs. His facial expression is neutral, except for his eyes, which are wide open as he is staring straight at us. He is slightly cross-eyed, and his brown eyebrows are raised above his nose. His body posture is stiff.

Jos de Gruyter & Harald ThysDépression à DortmundMicheline Szwajcer, Antwerp

Exhibition Images

Jos de Gruyter & Harald ThysDépression à Dortmund
Micheline Szwajcer, Antwerp