Unwind/Still Air
2023
Stefanie Schaut
In a world that races forward at breakneck speed, embracing the art of slowing down becomes an act of defiance, a rebellion against the rush. It is in this deliberate state that connections can be deepened. Embracing slowness is not a surrender, but a choice to reclaim our time. Slowly, hopefully, we refuse to live at the pace of machines. We live in a culture that often seems obsessed with productivity. Rest affirms our humanity and resists the all-consuming culture of hard work. It serves as a counterbalance to the culture of constant performance pressure. Rest is the key to reclaiming our inner strength. This series of photos invites you to strive for inner peace and collective liberation. Rest is more than taking naps.
Rest transcends this: it encompasses dreaming, reflection, and diverse expressions.
Inspired by Tricia Hersey's words in the book "Rest is Resistance," this project tells a story of rest as a powerful resistance against the current capitalist system. It serves as a counterbalance to the culture of constant performance pressure. Rest is the key to reclaiming our inner strength. This serie of photos invites you to strive for inner peace and collective liberation.
I use photography as a medium to convey the philosophy of slowing down and finding stillness. Photography itself is considered a form of stillness, a moment captured in time that invites contemplation.
Stefanie Schaut is a Belgian visual artist who earned her degree in Fine Arts, Photography from Luca School of Arts in 2015. She has garnered recognition for her work, which has been showcased in various publications and exhibitions. In 2022, she participated in the 'Back to Basics' residency at Arteles Art Center, Finland. Looking ahead, Stefanie is set to embark on the Arteventura residency in Spain in July 2024, where she will delve into exploring her maternal roots in the vicinity of her mother's birthplace. Recognized as a 'Fresh Eyes'-talent by GUP Magazine in 2022 and 2023, Stefanie invites further exploration of her work and updates on her artistic journey at www.stefanieschaut.me