Axel De Marteau’s (b.1994, Antwerp) photographic practice focuses on the co-existence of humans and nature, and concepts of territory. His depictions of the natural world, mostly in urban areas, aim to provide a document of our current era. De Marteau aims to investigate his subjects with a poetic and esthetic sensitivity, photographing most of the times from up close or from a large distance, introducing a different point of view.

We stood still. We all stood still. Still stood still. We’re standing still., as the title suggests, grew from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the functioning of our world. Everything all of a sudden stood still. De Marteau was forced to look back into his archive. He approaches it as a growing structure wherein photographs can be reused and transformed to a particular space. For this series the photographer intuitively selected a series of images that arose from small encounters on recent travels. The group of works generates new associations. This concept is mirrored by use of the grid in his presentation.

The series, We stood still. We all stood still. Still stood still. We’re standing still., was at first created for a group show at Tique | art space and later adapted into a window presentation.

Axel De Marteau was born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1994. He lives and works in Brussels. His work was recently shown in Maison Grégoire (2020), Collectible Art Fair (2020), Z33 House for contemporary art (2019), Jan van Eyck Academy (2019).

> Website Axel De Marteau

Tique Vitrine

Because art is essential, especially in these challenging times, we’ve created a Covid-19-proof exhibition series that’s only visible from the outside of Tique | art space called Tique Vitrine.