Matthieu Zellweger
Fears and Dreams
Dreams are reality. Laced with our worst fears and emboldened by our dearest wishes. Where is that fine line between a pleasant dream and a frightening nightmare? What is the unconscious connection between fears and dreams?
Dreams have fuzzy boundaries with the unspoken depths of our soul. They take us to a fantasy world of near darkness, yet they are vividly clear; they are blurry yet they stir strong emotions in us, paving the way to an almost godly connection to an all-too-familiar underworld; their light is confused, hazed and undefined but the agitated zone is easy to reach.
Blessed those dreams that are vaguely smiling, one short step away from agitated sleep. Woe to you haunting nightmares, incoming tide of pseudo-danger in the most vulnerable of moments. How are we to not spend our last drop of energy fighting ourselves in this closed-loop trap? Who are these characters, and why is it that known as they may look, they are not to be recognized? What do the want? Why do we send them to talk to ourselves behind the closed doors of our eyes?
On this journey, our own soul roams free amidst self-created ghosts. Until sunrise, that is.
Bio
Award-winning photographer Matthieu Zellweger grew up in French-speaking Switzerland. He is also a fully trained scientist with 15+ years of involvement in public health matters, and a graduate in International Political Economy. He gave various conferences and his images have been exhibited a number of times: Owada Gallery (Tokyo, 2017), Book and Press Fair (Geneva, 2014), Gallery of VII photo agency (New York, 2013), Club 44 (La Chaux-de-Fonds, 2011), the Geneva Geographical Society (2006, 2009, 2012 and 2014), the Swiss-Japan Circle (2010), the Zurich French-speaking Circle (2008), the Geneva Cultural Service (2007), and the Club of International Relations of Kanazawa (Japan, 2006). They also appeared in various magazines (New York Times, BBC World, Le Temps, GEO, NZZ, l’Hebdo, Jeune Afrique, Phosphore, l’Illustré, Animan). Matthieu Zellweger was nominated a Finalist of the 2017 Siena International Photo Awards. His essay “The Story of Hope” won a silver medal at the 2016 Tokyo International Foto Awards. He won the Lancet’s “Highlights – a picture of health” contest in December 2015. He was awarded Photo Philanthropy’s Activist Award 2014 for work depicting the plight of AIDS patients in Myanmar. He was nominated an Emerging Photojournalist 2013 by proof.org for his work about asthma in Benin. Matthieu Zellweger lives in Switzerland and works in French, English, German and Italian. He is represented and distributed by Haytham Pictures/ REA Photo (Paris).
Seems pretty boring considering the scope of the premise.
boring and mediocrity is the new norm a sign of progressive excellence
Harry…Imants
sorry i disagree boys….i am certainly not bored by this work….and i am easily bored….i find it quite strong…..sure, needs development if carried to the scope of the text..but this was a 4 day shoot/exploration of the topic…few could do as well as this in such a short time….
t..but this was a 4 day shoot/exploration of the topic…few could do as well as this in such a short time…. yea I forgot that the dog ate his best digital shots and due to all the snow he broke his finger
excuses don’t cut with audiences
Forget about the words, seems to me that this series — I hesitate to call it an “essay” — has a problem stemming from its visual concept: is it looking at the dreams or the people who are dreaming. No issue with doing both or even if there is intentional vagueness about which is which — but here both have the same look, eyes shut or open. Although I understand that a short essay needs to concentrate its concept and visual expression, but here the sameness of the look is what makes it boring.
I was just looking at images from a new exhibition and Steidl book by Paulo Nozolino, “Loaded Shine” (now, what does that mean?). Someone called this work by Nozolino, “a spiritual montage, since his images seem to come out of his dreams.” Now that could be a clearer concept.