you are gods

• Photographer
  florian fossel, Austria
• Website
  http://evolutionlab.net

At first glance this serial of portraits seems to be a random compilation of people of all ages, social classes and different ethnics. There is not even a prevalent mood to be seen in their facial expression. They appear serious or smiling, some doubting or shy and others looking offensive or even hostile.
However, what serves as a link between them all are those gaudily painted signs. We recognise quotes from the New Testament but they seem modified, somehow manipulated. Some arrangements correlate perfectly with the content while others seem to be totally out of sense. Some do have a nice calligraphy while others are giving us the impression of having been done on computers long outdated. Is there a connection between the attendees and the signs they are holding? We are compelled to look for a link between the face we see and the message we read. In a few cases the expression is corresponding with the lines. But in others what we might see are the innocent eyes of a child heralding hell on earth.

What the artist is showing us is an ironic perspective on the ambivalence of our existence. Islamic leaders interpret the Koran and manipulate its suras in order to drive their disciples into a holy war. The leader of the mightiest Christian nation generalizes the word of Jesus when saying ?Who that is not with us, is against us? in order to start a worldwide conflict beyond compare. But we don?t seem to notice this schizophrenia within our civilisations. The pope is on best terms with that American warlord. Together they spread salvation and so called western values in their Christian terminology.

In Ghana in West Africa anyone who has his own little shop puts a bible quote in front of it. ?God will provide ? Supermarket?. ?Higher Authority ? Beauty Parlour?, ?Holy Spirit in Charge ? Communication Centre?, ?Innocent Blood - Chop Bar?. What becomes obvious is the omnipresence of Christian terminology in everyday life. But the gap between words and action cannot be neglected. So we may find a devote churchman unscrupulously having sex with his neighbour?s wife. May he be the one holding the sign, ?Love thy neighbour as thyself?? This is when the present work turns into a bewildering dialogue of contradiction.

This serial of photos can therefore be seen as highly amalgamated impression of one country. Beyond that, seen in the artist?s ironical way however, it is a metaphysical depiction of the world we live in.

ortis

born 1965, graduated in graphic design at artschool ortweinplatz, graz. freelance art director an artist. worked for several television stations on corporate design, exhibitions on visual music and moving types in germany and austria. photography for me is my free, not commercial way, in artist expression.