Unsettled

The ongoing project ‘Unsettled’ focuses in a metaphoric way on the worldwide phenomenon of industrial expansions and its consequences, shown in the study of the Belgian village Doel and the surrounding polder area. The place is threatened by vast expansions of the port of Antwerp and related nature compensation plans, which installs an artificial contrast between nature and culture. In this series this actual case is approached and questioned in an indirect way, exceeding a pure documentary approach. It shows portraits of young inhabitants alternated by landscapes which bare witness to the transformed state of the area. Leaving a sourish taste by contrasting the young with the local changes, they symbolise the international tendency of global political and economic shifts and the way they manifest themselves to the people and their surroundings.

Unsettled was awarded, published and exhibited (inter)nationally since 2008 and received a project grant from the Dutch ‘Anna Cornelis foundation’ in 2010. I am continuing the series and prepare a book publication scheduled for 2012.

“With her series Unsettled, Isabelle Pateer does more than just witness: she proposes a metaphor of the ambiguity between progress and disenchantment.”

François Delvoye, curator Botanique Brussels

“The portraits make me think of a fairy story or some kind of a legendary tale. You have a gift of selecting motifs which ask questions – they are intriguing and they invite speculation.”

Ian Jeffrey, art critic, writer

“Le formidable travail sur la liquidation du village de Doel par Isabelle Pateer (une vraie découverte) est une parfaite métaphore.”

Jean-Marc Bodson, critique photo

“You isolate the persons to let people feel the isolated situation in the series and its evocative”

Robert Morton, agent/consultant for photography books

• CC De Spil, Roeselare (BE, 2011)
  Exhibition Views: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]
  Solo exhibition.
  Location: CC De Spil, Roeselare (BE)
  Dates: 15.9 – 18.10.2011
  
  
• Botanique, Brussels (BE, 2010)
  Exhibition Views: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
  Group exhibition in the gallery of the Botanique, Brussels, curated by François Delvoye. Participating photographers: Thomas Baltes, Cindy Hannard, Frédéric Pauwels, Isabelle Pateer.
  Location: Botanique Brussels (BE)
  Dates: 4.11 – 12.12.2010
  
  
• Daegu Photo Biennale (SK, 2010)
  ‘Hidden sense’ International Exhibition for Young Photographers, organised by the Daegu Photobiennale, South Korea, curated by Walter Bergmoser. The exhibition shows 140 works by selected photographers from 8 countries.
  Dates: 12 – 24.10.2010
  Location: Bongsan Culture Center, Daegu (SK)
  For more info, go here.
  
  
• Photobiennale Thessaloniki, Greece (GR, 2010)
  Exhibition Views: [1], [2]
  ‘Unsettled’ will be exhibited during the Photo Biennale Greece, organised by the Museum of Photography Thessaloniki.
  Dates: 16.4 – 09.05.2010.
  Location: Yeni Tzami, Thessaloniki (GR)
  More info: www.photobiennale.gr
  
  
• Breda Photo (NL, 2010)
  Exhibition Views: [1], [2]
  Group exhibition ‘E19/ afrit 15+16′, curated by Inge Henneman (PhotoMuseum Antwerp) Photographers: Arno Roncada, Lara Dhondt, Debby Huysmans, Isabelle Pateer.
  Location: Breda Photo, Breda (NL)
  Dates: 9.1 – 7.2.2010
  More info: www.bredaphoto.nl

• Biënnale de photographie Condroz (BE, 2009)
  Exhibition View: [1]
  The Photo Biennale of Condroz, organised by the Museum of Photography of Charleroi and the cultural centre of Marchin shows the work of 11 photographers on the thema ‘Sweet Sixteen’. The photographers are: Elke Boon, Thomas Chable, Marine Dricot, Lara Gasparotto, Kyna Gourley, Clara Gutsche, Jouko Lehtola, Isabelle Pateer, Frank Rothe, Michelle Sank, Chantal Vey.
  Dates: 1.8 – 30.8.2009
  
  
• Mercator galerie, Antwerp (BE, 2009)
  Exhibition Views: [1], [2], [3]
  Solo Exhibition in Mercator Galerie, Antwerp, curated by Gerda van der Kerken.
  Location: Mercator Galerie, Antwerp (BE)
  Dates: 7.5 – 25.6.2009
  
  
• Academie Galerie Utrecht (NL, 2009)
  Organised by Fotodok, the series Unsettled will be shown in an exhibition at the Academiegalerie in Utrecht, related to the Fotofestival Naarden.
  Dates: 9.5 – 6.6.2009
  Location: Academiegalerie, Utrecht (NL)
  More info: www.fotodok.nl