Esteban's overall photographic practice explores socio-political concepts within visual structures of serialization and repetition. At the 2015 AIPAD Photo Show, we will present Proposition One: Only The Ephemeral and Proposition Four: Heads Will Roll.
PO7, 2011 from Proposition One: Only The Ephemeral
Series Title: Proposition One: Only The Ephemeral
Number of artworks at AIPAD: 4
Edition: 5 + 1AP in each size
Size: 20.7” x 27.6” & 39.4” x 52.5”
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Year: 2011
With this series, Max de Esteban turns his camera toward recent cutting-edge technology—utilized in the creation and communication of art—that is now considered obsolete. Through a time-consuming and meticulous process, he dis-assembles apparatus such as film projectors, 35mm film cameras, VHS tape players and record players. Piece-by-piece, the parts are painted white, the machines are then reassembled and photographed at different stages of being re-built. The photographed layers are themselves assembled into a single image, resulting in x-ray-like photographs that are reminiscent of architectural cyanotypes.
The precision inherent in the photographs bring to mind the idea of a technological taxidermy that removes nostalgia, yet performs the role of memento mori for machines that have become obsolete and may soon be forgotten.
This work can be found in several private and public collections. Most recently, the Deutsches Technik Museum in Berlin acquired 15 photographs from the series for its collection.
Transforming the Labyrinth, 2013
from Proposition Four: Heads Will Roll
Series Title: Proposition Four: Heads Will Roll
Number of artworks at AIPAD: 1
Edition: 5 + 1AP in each size
Size: 25” x 19” image on 28” x 22” sheet & 45” x 35” image on 49” x 39” sheet
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Year: 2013
The Proposition Four: Heads Will Roll series examines the non-stop, daily flood of images that impact peoples' thoughts, memories, desires, dreams – even the very concept of reality. At a time of accelerated technological change, Max de Esteban layers and flattens multiple images into a final image, utilizing digital tools to present a cacophony of information that is at once dense with information yet visually legible.
This series is the subject of the monograph, 'Heads Will Roll', published by Hatze Cantz in 2014, and will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Klompching Gallery in September 2015.
Max de Esteban holds graduate degrees from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and Stanford University, as well as a PhD from the Universitat Ramon Llull. He is a former Fulbright Scholar, and his photographs have been exhibited throughout Europe. He lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
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