Viviane Sassen: Hot Mirror Catalogue

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Viviane Sassen: Hot Mirror at The Hepworth Wakefield, a survey of work by the internationally renowned Dutch artist and photographer Viviane Sassen (b.1972).

This mid-career retrospective volume is a creative collaboration between Sassen and designer Irma Boom and is published by Prestel. It includes an insightful interview with the artist, a contextualizing essay by The Hepworth Wakefield curator, Eleanor Clayton and Sassen's own thoughtful writings.

This publication focuses on Sassen's fine art photography, revealing a surrealist undercurrent in her work. Sassen recognizes Surrealism as one of her earliest artistic influences, seen in the uncanny shadows, fragmented bodies, and otherworldly landscapes she captures in her work.

In addition to the images from the acclaimed series Umbra, this volume draws from the series Flamboya, in which Sassen returned to Kenya; Oarasomnia, a dreamlime exploration of sleep; Roxane, a mutual portrait created with her muse, Roxane Danset; and the Pikin Slee series, a journey to a remote village in Suriname. Selected by Sassen herself from across the last ten years, the images draw on the surrealist strategies of collage and unexpected juxtapositions to give a survey of her practice.

Eleanor Clayton is Curator at The Hepworth Wakefield. She has written widely on contemporary art practice for periodicals such as Frieze, Art Monthly and Tate Etc., and has also published widely on 20^th century art.

Prestel is one of the world's leading illustrated book publishers with a stunning list of beautifully crafted books on all aspects of art, architecture, photography, fashion and design.

Edited by Eleanor Clayton
Publisher: Prestel & The Hepworth Wakefield (2018)
Softcover, 160 pages, 60 colour illustrations

Dimensions: 24 x 33 cm