Twice

Jacques Sonck (°1949) finds his exceptional models on the streets of Belgian cities like Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels, and photographs them on the spot, often in front of a neutral background. Regardless the volatile and anonymous nature of these encounters, Sonck’s subjects pose with full surrender, pride and self-confidence. Often these portraits have a humorous undertone, stealing a grin from the viewer. In other cases Sonck confronts his audience with deformed individuals, evoking feelings of shame and discomfort. Notwithstanding the confrontational nature of these portraits, Sonck is never guilty of voyeurism or ridicule as he approaches his subjects with distance, without judgment but with a certain softness and respect. From the 1990s onward Sonck started inviting his models into his studio, where he photographs them in front of a simple dark background with artificial light. In these purified photographs he focuses more on faces and or even body parts. These are more classical, timeless images, in comparison with his street photographs in which clothing and background often give away the timing. Jacques Sonck is represented by Gallery FIFTY-ONE, Antwerp.