In the Light of Harriet Backer: artist talk & film screening
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – 17:00–Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – 19:00
Harriet Backer’s world is the world of women, companions, friends, family, neighbors, and community. With a subtle and luminous palette, she painted intimate studies of Norwegian life with extreme attention to the nuances of Norwegian light. In 2023, the interdisciplinary artist Sandra Binion travelled to Norway from Chicago to reconstruct seventeen of Backer’s paintings as live tableaux for video — that resulted in the art film Dans la lumière d'Harriet Backer (In the Light of Harriet Backer). Entering Backer’s mise en scene with her video camera, Sandra became Harriet the painter, working slowly and intimately as Harriet did. Carefully tracing the details of faces, gestures, light, shadow, color, and texture, she injected subtle movements into Harriet’s still and patient world. Rooted in a form of slow cinema presented as a collage of movement, rhythm, and nuance, this drama of introspection seduces us into Harriet’s private universe and unveils hidden emotions. Trading impatience for captivation, we surrender our restlessness.
On Tuesday 18th of February from 18.00-20.00, International Library of Fashion Research will present an artist talk with Sandra Binion, followed by a film screening of Dans la lumière d'Harriet Backer (In the Light of Harriet Backer). The event is free & open for public. Coffee will be served. Welcome!
