SENTIMENTAL '76
This publication by Ileana Sebe presents itself as a photo album in the ordinary sense of the word: a collection of dear memories and a family history in pictures.
However, over this familiar format and domestic family layer, botanical and architectural observations are laid out, along with culinary and touristic details, ethereal self-portraits, and a few unclear images that truly feel like memories. The series is a soft sequence of emotions exhibited under a polished and personal aesthetic, with many human representations: reflections in windows and mirrors, statues and ensembles of portraits from the family archive. Although occasionally blurred and transparent, the album does not present itself as something distant, but rather as a close world that can, and even encourages to, be touched.
Everything is shot through a warm lens. Even the cold photos from winter don’t feel cold at all, because of the way the subjects are portrayed. The overall treatment is that of a remembrance, there is a nurturing quality of light (and life). We get to see objects enchanted with the human presence. Ileana captures details of patina and things that bare the marks of human touch. These traces are collected to tell the story of what was. But also of what could come next.
This photobook is closer to being a family album than an art book, taking you on a literal trip down memory lane. You get to meet the past, but the present feels more haunting. Warm ghosts in the form of classy silhouettes wave a friendly hand at you, reflected in the glassy surfaces of everyday life. Ileana zooms in on things, not with a dissecting intention, but more from a love of matter. Although we get to see up close textures of embroideries, plants, bricks, glass, furniture and food, there is a feeling of them being documented from afar, “look, the wine glass in its natural habitat, standing tall on a table surrounded by delightful food”.
A collection of glassware, silverware, tupperware and humanware.
Written in Romanian (2 pages)
128 pages, 15 x 21 cm
Interior: Munken Pure Rough 150 g / Tracing paper inserts GSK Extra White 110g
Vorsatz: Crush Almond 120 g
Hardcover: Custom textile cached pasteboard - each cover is a different cut from the floral pattern
Protective cover: Tracing paper GSK Extra White 140g
This publication by Ileana Sebe presents itself as a photo album in the ordinary sense of the word: a collection of dear memories and a family history in pictures.
However, over this familiar format and domestic family layer, botanical and architectural observations are laid out, along with culinary and touristic details, ethereal self-portraits, and a few unclear images that truly feel like memories. The series is a soft sequence of emotions exhibited under a polished and personal aesthetic, with many human representations: reflections in windows and mirrors, statues and ensembles of portraits from the family archive. Although occasionally blurred and transparent, the album does not present itself as something distant, but rather as a close world that can, and even encourages to, be touched.
Everything is shot through a warm lens. Even the cold photos from winter don’t feel cold at all, because of the way the subjects are portrayed. The overall treatment is that of a remembrance, there is a nurturing quality of light (and life). We get to see objects enchanted with the human presence. Ileana captures details of patina and things that bare the marks of human touch. These traces are collected to tell the story of what was. But also of what could come next.
This photobook is closer to being a family album than an art book, taking you on a literal trip down memory lane. You get to meet the past, but the present feels more haunting. Warm ghosts in the form of classy silhouettes wave a friendly hand at you, reflected in the glassy surfaces of everyday life. Ileana zooms in on things, not with a dissecting intention, but more from a love of matter. Although we get to see up close textures of embroideries, plants, bricks, glass, furniture and food, there is a feeling of them being documented from afar, “look, the wine glass in its natural habitat, standing tall on a table surrounded by delightful food”.
A collection of glassware, silverware, tupperware and humanware.
Written in Romanian (2 pages)
128 pages, 15 x 21 cm
Interior: Munken Pure Rough 150 g / Tracing paper inserts GSK Extra White 110g
Vorsatz: Crush Almond 120 g
Hardcover: Custom textile cached pasteboard - each cover is a different cut from the floral pattern
Protective cover: Tracing paper GSK Extra White 140g
This publication by Ileana Sebe presents itself as a photo album in the ordinary sense of the word: a collection of dear memories and a family history in pictures.
However, over this familiar format and domestic family layer, botanical and architectural observations are laid out, along with culinary and touristic details, ethereal self-portraits, and a few unclear images that truly feel like memories. The series is a soft sequence of emotions exhibited under a polished and personal aesthetic, with many human representations: reflections in windows and mirrors, statues and ensembles of portraits from the family archive. Although occasionally blurred and transparent, the album does not present itself as something distant, but rather as a close world that can, and even encourages to, be touched.
Everything is shot through a warm lens. Even the cold photos from winter don’t feel cold at all, because of the way the subjects are portrayed. The overall treatment is that of a remembrance, there is a nurturing quality of light (and life). We get to see objects enchanted with the human presence. Ileana captures details of patina and things that bare the marks of human touch. These traces are collected to tell the story of what was. But also of what could come next.
This photobook is closer to being a family album than an art book, taking you on a literal trip down memory lane. You get to meet the past, but the present feels more haunting. Warm ghosts in the form of classy silhouettes wave a friendly hand at you, reflected in the glassy surfaces of everyday life. Ileana zooms in on things, not with a dissecting intention, but more from a love of matter. Although we get to see up close textures of embroideries, plants, bricks, glass, furniture and food, there is a feeling of them being documented from afar, “look, the wine glass in its natural habitat, standing tall on a table surrounded by delightful food”.
A collection of glassware, silverware, tupperware and humanware.
Written in Romanian (2 pages)
128 pages, 15 x 21 cm
Interior: Munken Pure Rough 150 g / Tracing paper inserts GSK Extra White 110g
Vorsatz: Crush Almond 120 g
Hardcover: Custom textile cached pasteboard - each cover is a different cut from the floral pattern
Protective cover: Tracing paper GSK Extra White 140g