37 Notes on Interesting Lies

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12.
 Photographs are specialists as far as intimacy is concerned, because photographs are so little in themselves. They are a thing, and they don’t respond. The viewer can use a photograph uninhibitedly, for as long as he wants. There are less restraints on intimacy in a photograph. But intimacy which is too exposed appears vulgar. The photographer can give the naked girl a veil to cover herself; to make her feel protected and covered, but he can also fog the photograph. Dirk Braeckman does just that. He literally covers his photographs with a grey veil. In order to see what is on the photo, the viewer has to adjust his eyes. That’s a bit tricky, but it makes the photograph less vulgar. Once the viewer’s eyes have become adjusted, he also feels protected. It is as if the picture has become a little bit of himself and is part of his own obscurity.
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