On the Soft Edge of Space

Artist Marleen Sleeuwits, known for her photography, objects and installations, takes this experimental book to propose a four-tiered representation of space: starting with two-dimensional images of space, that are then placed in a scale model, to the photos taken inside this model and, finally, to their convergence in this book. The spaces could be anything from a museum to a lobby or a passageway: locations we know as places for contemplation, for waiting or for movement. The condition of the spaces’ bare walls is hard and sober, offering little support: the space you see in front of you and the space outside your field of view, foreground and background, seem to be absorbed in a timeless vacuum. Surely there is space beyond our sight, in the realm of our imagination, containing much of our desire. How we would love to reach out for tangible attachments to activate the bare, cold or sober life: a supportive foundation not to be found in the spaces this book contains. Depicted here are immersive spaces, waiting for someone to come and touch base. This way the book, as a space, is a challenging environment. As we leaf through these rooms, we can sharpen our view of the world: when will these spaces come to life and who will lead the way: the room, or the user? Sleeuwits touches upon the question how we might find consideration in such places. On the Soft Edge of Space is a visual experiment and a challenge to our imagination. Marleen Sleeuwits (23 June, 1980) works and lives in The Hague. Following her study at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, she earned her Master’s in Photography at St. Joost, Breda in 2005. She is being represented by Gallery LhGWR in The Hague and by Gallery FeldbuschWiesner in Berlin. Her photo works, objects and installations have been exhibited, among other places, in MKgalerie in Rotterdam; Belfast Photo Festival; the Nederlands Fotomuseum; Nieuwe Vide Haarlem; Brno House of Arts, Czech Republic; Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle; Belo Horizonte International Festival of Photography, Brasil; Museum Het Valkhof; Jeonju Photo Festival in South Korea; and Photo Levallois, Paris, Marleen Sleeuwits was elected Foam Talent 2012 (Foam fotografiemuseum Amsterdam) and in 2013, she was a finalist at the prestigious International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères, France. Her work is represented in collections of institutions like the Erasmus University Rotterdam; KPMG; De Brauw Blackstone and Westbroek; Heden Den Haag; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various private collections including the Sanders Collection.